One season removed from posting a 3.67 goals against average that was the worst in the league among goaltenders who played in 25 or more games, the 23-year-old appears to be back on track. The expansion franchise got off to a hot start, but were thwarted by fourth-year goaltender Carter Hart, whose struggles the previous year were well-documented. One night earlier, the Kraken were embarrassed by the Flyers in Philadelphia, 6-1, but it didn’t always look like it was going to go down that way. He’s going to be an important piece for those types of players for us.” We had Mason out there tonight, thought he did a good job in his role…he challenged two or three guys. If I was the opposition coach, I’d be saying the same thing. There’s no secret that you can just look down the middle and say this is a young group, let’s be physical on them. “Our team didn’t like that he was injured on the play. “When you look at it, you don’t think (the hit) is bad at all, if he doesn’t go down, it’s something that goes by the wayside. While the hit itself was clean, the Devils still responded, both in the moment with the scrum after the play and then again early in the second period, when Mason Geertsen, making his NHL debut, went after Lauzon and engaged him in a brief fight that earned them each a major penalty and 10-minute misconduct. It’s just, when he went down, I’ve had my share of shoulder injuries, and I know when you stick your arm out, something bad can happen sometimes.” “The hit itself, I couldn’t find a lot that I would have to criticize. “I watched the hit, and I don’t like the way he fell,” Ruff said. Ruff did not have an update on Hughes for reporters who attended practice on Wednesday, but in speaking about it on Tuesday night, did not have an issue with the hit itself, one which did appear clean to most observers. After staying down following the ensuing scrum, he skated off directly to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game.įollowing the contest, Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said Hughes was “day-to-day,” but both the loud expletive Hughes uttered as he headed down the tunnel - as seen in a video circulating on social media - and the way his left arm was dangling at his side as he did so would indicate this might be a lengthy absence for one of the league’s brightest young stars. Seattle defensemen Jeremy Lauzon rode Hughes hard into the corner boards after a turnover, and Hughes fell awkwardly on his left shoulder.

Jack hughes nhl 19