The New Jersey Devils are playing a matinee game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. In what should have been a dominant performance, the team actually gave up the first goal of the game in the second period. It's not an ideal situation for a team that really needs to get as many points as possible.
The Devils went into the second intermission with a 1-0 deficit. They also have a pretty bad Stefan Noesen penalty they have to kill. The way it got to 1-0 would be funny if the Devils weren't losing. The team thought they got a break, with the Chicago Blackhawks' forward Jason Dickinson hitting the post on a shot. Unfortunately, Luke Hughes was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Jason Dickinson scores his 6th goal of the season after his shot goes off the post then off Luke Hughes' face and in 😂 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/HsvztDALhi
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 14, 2024
You saw that right. Hughes was standing in front of the net, and the puck hit him in the face.
The Devils really didn't do much to respond outside of a really good Erik Haula chance in front. Things just aren't really clicking for the Devils. It probably has to do with a few things. This team has been known to play down to opponents, especially at home. The Chicago Blackhawks aren't exactly a team that brings fear into the hearts of their opponents.
The Devils are also playing a matinee game. In the past, those games are known to be sloppy and underwhelming. The Devils play a style that needs a level of execution that just doesn't happen with sloppy play. The passes require crispness and the skating goes through some very small windows, so playing like they have in the first two periods will lead to exactly what we're seeing.
There's still a period left to play. The Devils can make this Luke Hughes "goal" a small memory in what should be a positive development.