Devils' Jack Hughes Out Day-to-Day with Lower-Body Injury

Newark, N.J. New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes suffered a lower-body injury during Thursday night's 3-2 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators at Prudential Center, leaving the game in the first period and not returning.

Hughes, the 24-year-old star forward and Team USA Olympian, skated for just three shifts totaling 2 minutes and 27 seconds before exiting. He left the ice with a trainer at the 4:10 mark, briefly returned for a 55-second shift seven minutes later, and departed again at 7:31 following a 56-second shift, favoring his left side as he headed to the locker room. The Devils secured the win despite his absence, with goals from Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier and Dougie Hamilton.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe provided an optimistic update after Saturday's practice, describing the injury as day-to-day and not serious. "Evaluation yesterday confirmed good news, which is that it's not anything serious," Keefe said. "I think we'll see him on the ice soon." Hughes will miss Saturday's road game against the Ottawa Senators but is expected to return shortly thereafter. The team also faces uncertainty with captain Nico Hischier, who skipped the morning skate due to illness and...