Here are 10 takeaways from the game:
1. The Devils had to shake up their lineup because of the injuries, so nearly every line saw a change in personnel. The defensive pairings, however, remained the same.
Here are how the lines shaped up:
Bratt-Zacha-Palmieri
Coleman-Zajac-Stafford
Wood-Hischier-Noesen
Boyle-Rooney-Hayes
Greene-Vatanen
Moore-Severson
Butcher-Lovejoy
Appleby
Blackwood
2. Kevin Rooney was called up from the Binghamton Devils prior to Thursday's game. The forward has nine goals and nine assists in 41 games for Binghamton this season. Rooney played four games last season in the NHL and was held pointless.
In his season debut Rooney played 11:05 and took three shots on net.
3. The Devils had to dress two goaltenders who have yet to start or play a game in the NHL. With Schneider out, Ken Appleby made his NHL starting debut and Mackenzie Blackwood was called up from the AHL to back up.
Tweet from @NJDevils: Taking it all in. You���ll never have your first-ever @NHL start again, @KAppleby35! #NSHvsNJD pic.twitter.com/wiu0lCgLuH
The last time the New Jersey Devils dressed two goalies in which neither had started any games in the NHL heading into the game was Oct. 18, 1986 (when this reporter was less than a year old!), at Pittsburgh, when they dressed Karl Friesen and Chris Terreri, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
4. New Jersey thought they had the 1-0 lead at 16:14 of the first period when Butcher hit the back of the net with a shot from the slot. As the puck crossed the goal line, Wood collided with Predators netminder Pekka Rinne and the goal was immediately waved off.
Tweet from @HabsCorner: pic.twitter.com/7nsixYSHi2
The goaltender interference penalty was just the fourth such call taken this season, three of which belong to Wood.
5. Appleby let in the first goal of his career at 9:48 of the second period when Predators defenseman P.K. Subban took a slap shot from the left point. The goal came right off a faceoff win by the Predators.
In two relief efforts to start his NHL career, and leading up to the first goal he let in Thursday night, Appleby had his shutout streak halted at 94:24.
6. The Devils were outshot by a 27-24 margin. The second period in particular was a difficult one, where the Devils had just five shots on Rinne.
7. At 10:19 of the second period Severson was hit hard along the left wall by Predators forward Austin Watson. Severson lay crouched on the ice and had to be tended to by head athletic trainer Kevin Morley before being helped off the ice. Severson sat out the remainder of the second period. He returned to the ice for the third.
8. The Devils are 0-4-0 in their past four games and 2-7-3 in their past 12.
9. The Devils have been on a difficult stretch the last four games. With Thursday's loss, they have posted four losses in a row and have been outscored 12-3.
10. The Devils will be away from the rink for the next three days as the NHL takes a break for the All-Star Game. The Devils will be back on the ice Monday afternoon for practice before heading to Buffalo to face the Sabres next Tuesday.
