A heady moment in a tight game raises tough questions about how players are treated after a brutal hit. Here’s the story: Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon crashed face-first into the ice following a second-period scrum in New Jersey’s 5-3 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. During the skirmish, Dmitri Voronkov tugged Dillon’s jersey up and delivered a high punch, leaving Dillon barely able to stand. Even with assistance from the Devils’ trainer, he seemed unable to rise, let alone exit the ice.
So why did Dillon, who looked seriously injured, return to the ice nearly 25 minutes later? He didn’t come back for the third period, but was it safe to re-enter after such a severe blow? NJ Advance Media pressed Devils coach Sheldon Keefe for clarity after the game.
Keefe acknowledged his own uncertainty from the bench but noted Dillon had been cleared and completed all required evaluations. Dillon wanted to play again, so Keefe gave him a few shifts before deciding to let him rest for the remainder of the night. He summed up the broader arithmetic: time was limited, and the decision balanced caution with the player’s own wishes and the team’s needs.
The game also featured a chaotic aftermath, with multiple scrums and a flurry of penalties—Columbus and New Jersey combining for 74 penalty minutes. Keefe criticized Voronkov’s conduct and questioned how the Jackets managed the rest of the game, framing the incident as part of a larger breakdown in conduct and accountability on the ice.
Dillon, 35, was in the lineup for his 1,000th NHL game on Monday. This season, he’s contributed three goals, nine points, and 24 penalty minutes across 26 games, and many consider him one of New Jersey’s premier defensemen this year.
Notes: Ryan Novozinsky, a sports reporter for NJ Advance Media, covered the Devils for NJ.com. He’s a longtime observer of New Jersey hockey and a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Sports Media degree earned in 2022.
