The New Jersey Devils picked up a gutsy 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, but the victory came with a cloud of concern hanging over it. Star center Jack Hughes left the game in the first period and didn’t return-an unsettling sight for both the Devils and Team USA, with the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon.
Hughes, 24, exited the game twice in the opening frame. The first time, he headed down the tunnel but made his way back to the bench.
He took one shift, then left again-this time for good. When the Devils returned for the second period, Hughes was absent, and it was quickly clear that he wouldn’t be back.
After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe addressed the situation, saying Hughes had “tweaked something” during play but downplayed the severity. That’s a welcome sign for Devils fans, who’ve already seen their franchise cornerstone miss a significant chunk of the season.
Earlier in the 2025 campaign, Hughes was sidelined for 18 games following surgery on a finger injury suffered during a team dinner in Chicago on November 13. For now, he’s listed as day-to-day.
The timing of this latest injury is particularly tough, not just for New Jersey but for Team USA. Hughes is expected to be a key piece of the American roster at the upcoming Olympics, where he’ll join forces with his brother, Quinn. Any setback at this stage could complicate preparations for what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes international tournament.
Still, the Devils didn’t fold after losing their top center. Instead, they rallied.
Nico Hischier delivered the game-winner in overtime, capping off a resilient performance that saw New Jersey claw back from adversity. Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Bratt also found the back of the net, while Jacob Markstrom stood tall in goal, turning away 27 of the 29 shots he faced.
It was a win that showed character-a team digging deep without one of its brightest stars. But as the Devils prepare for Saturday’s road matchup against the Ottawa Senators, all eyes will be on the next injury update. Hughes is the engine of this offense, and if New Jersey wants to stay in the playoff mix, they’ll need him healthy and back on the ice sooner rather than later.