Devils Drop Physical Battle to Blue Jackets Amid Chaos, Injuries, and Ejections
Monday night’s showdown between the New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets was more than just a divisional matchup - it turned into a chaotic, emotionally charged clash that left the Devils with more than just a 5-3 loss. It was the kind of game that tests a team’s depth, discipline, and resilience. And for New Jersey, it exposed some cracks that go beyond the scoreboard.
Let’s start with the obvious: this was a game the Devils needed. With the Metropolitan Division standings tightening by the day, every point matters.
New Jersey still sits in second place, but the margin for error is paper-thin. Dropping a game like this - especially one where they lost control both on the ice and on the bench - could have ripple effects if they don’t right the ship quickly.
But the result almost feels secondary to what unfolded in the trenches.
Dillon’s 1,000th Game Ends in Pain, Not Celebration
The most jarring moment came in what should’ve been a milestone night for Brenden Dillon. Celebrated for reaching his 1,000th NHL game, Dillon’s night ended early after a brutal fight with Dmitri Voronkov that escalated fast and ended ugly.
It started with a minor exchange - Dillon delivered a light jab to Voronkov’s chest with his gloves still on. But Voronkov took it as a green light.
He dropped the gloves, grabbed Dillon, and unleashed a flurry of punches, including an uppercut and a final blow as Dillon was already falling. Dillon hit the ice hard - face-first - and didn’t return.
That’s not just a fight gone wrong. That’s a player getting jumped before he’s even ready to defend himself. And it’s exactly the kind of situation that raises serious questions about how the NHL is managing these altercations.
Siegenthaler’s Ejection Adds to the Mayhem
As if losing Dillon wasn’t enough, the Devils soon found themselves down another blueliner after Jonas Siegenthaler was ejected for a fight that, frankly, didn’t look like one he wanted to be in.
The incident started when Connor Brown got tangled up with multiple Blue Jackets players. Adam Fantilli jumped in, and Siegenthaler stepped up to defend his teammate - as any good teammate would.
But here’s where it got messy: Siegenthaler didn’t immediately drop the gloves. His body language suggested hesitation, not aggression.
He looked more like he was trying to pull Fantilli away than square up.
Still, the gloves eventually came off, and punches were exchanged. The problem?
Siegenthaler’s jersey had come unhooked. According to NHL Rule 46.13, if a player fights and their jersey isn’t properly tied down - and it comes off - that’s an automatic game misconduct.
That’s exactly what happened.
So now, because of a rule meant to prevent staged fights and jersey-pulling, the Devils were down two of their most reliable defensive defensemen. Not ideal when you’re trying to claw back into a game against a physical, grinding opponent like Columbus.
A Refereeing Dilemma That’s Only Getting Worse
What we saw Monday wasn’t just a couple of fights. It was a breakdown in the system. The officials were put in an impossible position - trying to determine intent, timing, and safety all in real time while the game spiraled into chaos.
Take the Siegenthaler situation. If you’re watching closely, it’s clear he wasn’t looking to fight.
But how is a referee supposed to make that call on the fly? The rulebook doesn’t give them much leeway.
And in the absence of discretion, the result was a game-changing penalty that hurt the Devils more than it helped maintain order.
Then there was the later fight between Stefan Noesen and - once again - Voronkov. This one looked more like a traditional scrap, but it still turned dangerous.
Both players landed big shots. Both were slammed to the ice.
Noesen even took punches while on the ground. It was less of a hockey fight and more of a wrestling match gone rogue.
The Bigger Picture: Has the NHL Lost Control of Fighting?
Let’s be clear - this isn’t about eliminating fighting from hockey. There’s a place for it in the game when it’s organic, when it’s mutual, and when it serves a purpose in the flow of play. But what we saw in New Jersey wasn’t that.
What we saw were fights breaking out during stoppages, players getting jumped before they were ready, and referees unsure of when to intervene. That’s not just dangerous - it’s unsustainable.
It’s similar to the NFL’s ongoing struggle with the Tush Push. The play happens so fast and in such a tight space that it’s nearly impossible to officiate cleanly.
Every snap seems to have a false start or an uncalled offsides. And yet, the league hasn’t figured out how to manage it.
The NHL is in the same boat with fighting.
Right now, there’s no clear guideline on when referees should step in to stop a fight - especially when a player is clearly not ready or is in a vulnerable position. That’s how you end up with a guy like Dillon getting hurt on his milestone night, or Siegenthaler getting tossed for trying to protect a teammate without wanting to throw hands.
What Comes Next?
The league has a choice to make. Either give referees more discretion - and the training to use it - so they can step in earlier and stop these things before they get out of hand, or draw a hard line and start phasing out fighting altogether.
Because right now, what we’re seeing isn’t just old-school hockey. It’s a version of the game where players are getting hurt not in the heat of competition, but in unnecessary, preventable scraps that the league doesn’t seem equipped to handle.
The Devils will regroup, and they’ll have to do it fast. But Monday night should be a wake-up call - not just for New Jersey, but for the NHL as a whole.
The game is faster, more skilled, and more dangerous than ever. It’s time for the league to catch up.