Injured Hughes ‘week-to-week,’ leaves Devils’ trip

New Jersey Devils star forward Jack Hughes is “week to week” with an upper body injury, the team announced on Sunday.

Hughes left the team’s road trip and has returned to New Jersey to be with the Devils’ athletic care staff. The Devils face the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Hughes was injured in the Devils’ 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday. He awkwardly crashed into the boards at 11:35 of the first period, on his fifth shift of the game, after being slightly hooked by Blues defenseman Torey Krug.

New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said the team is “fortunate” that Hughes wasn’t injured worse in the collision.

“He came back, he tried a shift. We got him on his way home to be taken care of by athlete care people back in Jersey. I think we’re fortunate, actually,” Ruff said.

The center is tied for the league lead in points (20) with Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. He has five goals and an NHL-leading 15 assists in 10 games. His 12 power-play points are second in the NHL, as Hughes has helped the Devils to the league’s best power play (43.6% conversion rate) entering Sunday’s game.

“It’s tough,” Devils forward Curtis Lazar said after the team’s loss in St. Louis. “Look at the start he’s had. I’m not going to lie, we were a little dejected when it happened. But, again, you’ve got to kind of turn the page when you realize he’s not coming back.”

New Jersey is also without center Nico Hischier, who missed his fourth consecutive game on Sunday with an upper-body injury.

“Every team has to deal with injuries. We’re dealing with a couple of key injuries,” Ruff said. “At the same time, it’s a great opportunity for other guys to step in.”

The Devils are 6-3-1, third in the Metropolitan Division.