(Newark) With his team down 2-0 again, New Jersey Devils coach Lindy Ruff brings change for Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
He makes room for 19-year-old defender Luke Hughes in a line-up led by his 21-year-old brother, Jack.
Luke Hughes will replace defenseman Ryan Graves, who suffered an upper-body injury in Game 2 against Carolina on Friday.
Jack Hughes is looking forward to playing with his brother in a playoff context.
“He handles the puck well in our zone and raises it,” Jack said. He can move us quickly on the ice. »
Luke Hughes signed a contract with the Devils on April 8, after Wolverines lost in the Frozen Four semi-finals.
The fourth overall pick in 2021, he played in the Devils’ last two regular-season games. In the last game, he scored in overtime against the Capitals.
Vitek Vanecek will likely be in goal — like at the start of the playoffs. As of Game 3 against Rangers, he was replaced by Akira Schmid. The latter had not often been put to the test, before achieving a breakthrough in Game 3 against Rangers.
In the past two seasons, he’s only played 24 regular-season games, splitting his time between the Devils and the AHL’s Utica branch.
When called upon against Rangers, the 22-year-old keeper won four out of five games.
He allowed just two goals in his wins and earned two shutouts, including one in Game 7.
Vanecek had struggled in the first two games against Rangers, who then edged New Jersey 10-2.
However, Carolina outscored New Jersey 11-2 over two games, collecting nine even-strength goals.
Ruff hopes the homecoming will boost his troops in future games.
“We didn’t play our best,” Jack Hughes said. We’ve dug ourselves a hole and it’s time to get out. »
