When Jack Hughes was once again injured, this time on the must unlucky/freakish of accidents the NHL has ever seen, we all knew goals would not come as easily for this Devils team. However, after scoring two goals in the first period of the 2025-26 Jackless era, New Jersey has mustered just one goal in the next eight periods and a full five minute OT. The “goal” if you can even call it that, was off of a Nico Hischier skate that directed the puck towards the crease and then was knocked into the net by a Tampa defender. Greasy, fortunate goals are nice to get, but don’t necessarily infuse a lineup with goal scoring confidence.

While the three total goals and a 1-2 record sans Hughes is not ideal, it has not been for a lack of trying. The Devils have outshot their opponents in the last two games and were dead even with 31 shots a piece in the Washington win. If it weren’t for a lights out prefromance by Sergei Bobrovsky last night, perhaps today’s blog meets you with a different feel. With your superstar play driver out of the lineup, its not ideal to face three East beasts on the road immediately. Included in that were three top tier performances by three top tier goaltenders in Logan Thompson, Andrei Vasilevsky, and Bobrovsky. While Allen has been solid, Markstrom’s shaky play did not give the Devils, who started strong in Tampa, a chance to win the game. 

So is it time to panic? I think not. The true test is ahead where in the next six games Jersey will face some mediocre competition. While there are no longer any easy games in this league, a scheduling sequence as follows: Flyers, Wings, Blues, Sabres, Flyers, Blue Jackets, should bode well for the Devils. If New Jersey can’t get eight points or more, it might be time for Tom Fitzgerald to search for outside answers. With that said, not many teams are looking to deal players that can immediately patch the wound of Jack Hughes’ broken wine glass this early in the season. The aforementioned should be for nought as I expect Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and company to finally shake the “woe is me” malaise left behind from missing 86…

What do you think the Devils can do to get the O going without Jack? Let’s hear it in the comments…