Luke 'Ready to Play' for Playoff Debut | FEATURE

Luke Hughes has learned something about himself while watching the Devils' opening two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoff action.

He doesn't handle being a spectator very well.

"I get more nervous watching the games," he said. "I get really nervous in the stands."

Luckily for Luke, 19, he won't have to worry about those nerves for Game 3 against Carolina at Prudential Center Sunday afternoon because he will be on the ice.

"Luke Hughes is going to go in," head coach Lindy Ruff said, confirming that Hughes will be making his playoff debut.

And those bystander nerves won't be an issue anymore.

"I don't get nervous (on the ice)," Hughes said. "No nerves out there … I'm really excited and definitely ready to play."

Hughes, the Devils' fourth-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and the younger brother of team superstar Jack, played in the team's final two regular-season games of the season. He scored the overtime winner at Washington in the season finale, his first-career NHL goal, to end the year on a high.

"We know he's going to skate. He got a little taste at the end of the year," Ruff said. "We feel the skating can help us. We're excited to see him get in and play."

Hughes' attributes are one of the biggest reasons for his insertion into the lineup - Ryan Graves' upper-body injury being the other. Hughes, who worked with Damon Severson and the top power-play unit in Saturday's practice, is a fleet-footed blueliner that makes crisp breakout passes from his own zone and can join the rush. His mobility and puck play will be an asset against a team like Carolina.

"It's just playing my game, having a fast transition with my legs and passing ability," he said. "That's one thing I can help this team with, my transition game and really playing fast and getting back to pucks, and helping on breakouts and the neutral zone and doing my thing on the offensive zone. I'm very ready and very prepared."

Hughes' breakout ability could be crucial in the Devils getting back into their Second Round series. The Hurricanes have overwhelmed the Devils in their own zone. A combination of speed and heavy forecheck have hemmed the Devils in, and New Jersey's ability to escape will be paramount to any kind of success.

"We need puck movers. We need guys that can transport the puck out of the zone," Jack Hughes said. "That's what we've been missing a bit in the first two games. Luke is a guy that can get the puck in and out of the zone and be a threat on the rush. He'll transport the puck. He'll get us up and out of the zone fast, and we're a fast team. We need guys that are moving the puck. Our D have done a good job of that all year."

Though he hasn't played in over three weeks, just being around an NHL team during a playoff run is a learning experience.

"The biggest thing is intensity, how much intensity there is around the rink, during practice and during the game," said Hughes, who played two years of college hockey with Michigan before joining New Jersey. "You've got to be really intense and ready to go."

And Hughes will get to play his first playoff game in front of the Devils faithful at Prudential Center.

"Personally, it's super exciting. The one game I played here I heard the 'Luuuuke' chants," he said with a smile. "I think that was awesome. The fans have been great through every game. They've been really loud. I think they've helped the guys out a ton. It's fun playing at home."

And it's a good thing playing in such an intense game and environment that nerves won't be an issue for Hughes.

"He's going to play in his first NHL Stanley Cup playoff game," Ruff said. "You don't really know what to expect. You have to stay calm."