Tuesday was not a great day at the office for the Devils.
After Tuesday’s morning skate ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Bruins, the team announced multiple injuries and entries into COVID-19 protocol, as New Jersey will be painfully shorthanded against Boston, when the Devils will be looking for their fourth straight win out of the extended holiday break.
The first bit of bad news came with the realization that defenseman Dougie Hamilton was not on the ice for morning skate, and it was later revealed that the 28-year-old will undergo surgery for a broken jaw and has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Sunday. Hamilton, who signed a seven-year, $63 million deal with the Devils this past offseason and has 20 points in 30 games on the season, suffered the injury on Sunday when he was hit in the face by a puck during a win over the Capitals.
Nico Hischier will also be out on Tuesday night due to an injury, after being listed with a lower body injury. The team captain has six points in his last five games, including the overtime game winner against Washington on Sunday. In addition, backup goalie Jonathan Bernier had surgery on his injured hip on Monday, and will miss the rest of the season.
Both Yegor Sharangovich and Pavel Zacha have been placed in COVID protocol in another blow to New Jersey. Sharangovich had also been heating up out of the break, scoring a goal in all three of the Devils wins since the season resumed, while Zacha is tied for the team lead in goals.
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