Devils' Hughes, Dillon out for Game 2 vs. Hurricanes
The New Jersey Devils' blue line has taken a hit.
Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon won't play in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday due to injuries, head coach Sheldon Keefe announced.
Simon Nemec and Dennis Cholowski will draw into the lineup in their places.
The Devils used the following defense pairings at Tuesday's morning skate:
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| Brett Pesce (R) | Dougie Hamilton |
| Brian Dumoulin | Johnathan Kovacevic |
| Dennis Cholowski | Simon Nemec |
Dillon was helped off the ice in Sunday's Game 1 loss after an awkward collision in front of the net. It's unclear what's ailing Hughes, who logged 22:20 in the contest.
The Devils were already without blue-liner Jonas Siegenthaler and first-line center Jack Hughes to begin the series.
Luke led all New Jersey defensemen with 44 points in 71 games during the regular season. Dillon, a physical presence at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, paced Devils blue-liners with 191 hits.
Game 2 will mark the Stanley Cup Playoff debuts for Cholowski, a depth addition at the trade deadline, and Nemec, the No. 2 overall pick in 2022.