Devils Face Double Injury Blow Ahead of Game 2 Against Hurricanes

The New Jersey Devils suffered a tough start to their playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, losing Game 1 by a score of 4-1 while also enduring multiple injuries to key defensemen Brenden Dillon and Luke Hughes. Carolina dominated the game, more than doubling New Jersey's shot total and applying consistent pressure, with Logan Stankoven scoring twice in his playoff debut. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that both Hughes and Dillon will miss Game 2, forcing the team to rely on replacements Dennis Cholowski and Simon Nemec. The injuries compound the Devils’ struggles, as their performance in recent games has been lackluster, and their depleted lineup faces a Hurricanes squad that appeared healthy and energized. While Devils captain Nico Hischier noted that Carolina played simple, hard hockey, he emphasized the need for his team to match that intensity moving forward. The Hurricanes, coming off a slump to end the regular season, looked revitalized and in control as they took the early series lead.