There is a lot of uncertainty in the air for the New Jersey Devils.
After it was recently announced that Jack Hughes would miss the remainder of the regular and postseason due to shoulder surgery, Devils fans are pleading with the rest of the team to step up in his place.
The New Jersey Devils (33-24-6) will have a chance to figure out their offensive struggles as they prepare to face the league-leading Winnipeg Jets (42-16-4).
The Devils are in a period of transition, as they are one day away from the trade deadline, and there are sources who confirm that general manager Tom Fitzgerald will look to make some changes.
The Devils bottom six has failed to record a point since the middle of February, and were struggling before the Four Nations break to get on the score sheet as well.
Dougie Hamilton will also be out of the lineup after sustaining an injury against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game was a heartbreaker for NJ, as they battled a 3-1 deficit, tying the game up late in the third period, only to lose with 5 seconds left on a Thomas Harley goal.
“We competed unbelievable,” Timo Meier said to the media following the loss. “We gave it everything. It just shows this time of the year how tiny mistakes can cost you a game. As much as it hurts, we’ve got to take the good stuff from this game and move on.”
The Devils have had to readjust all season following injuries to their star players including Jacob Markström, Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler, and now, Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes.
Siegenthaler and Hughes were both put on LTIR, while Hamilton has been listed week-to-week.
Looking forward to Friday’s game against the Jets, the Devils will have to solve the 6-foot-4 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, currently the nation’s best netminder. Hellebuyck holds a .969 save percentage and a 0.92 GAA.
Kyle Connor remains a dominant offensive force, tallying 76 points (31 G, 45 A) on the season thus far, and has six points in his last five games.
Mark Scheifele follows closely behind with 68 points (34 G, 34 A) and has four points in his last five games played.
The Devils will look to their star players in Hischier, Meier and Jesper Bratt to get past the strong Winnipeg team, but will also need their bottom six players to generate sustained offensive pressure.
The Devils will host the Jets on Friday, March 7, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
