Devils’ Nathan Bastian Injured in 5-1 Loss to Rangers

Devils forward Nathan Bastian did not finish Thursday's game due to an injury.

NEWARK, N.J. -- It is hard to believe that New Jersey Devils forward Nathan Bastian only played 1:41 against the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Prudential Center.

He was on the receiving end of two big hits and was handed a roughing and fighting penalty, in addition to sustaining an injury that kept him out of the game for the final period.

A little over two minutes after puck drop, he took a hit up high from Matt Rempe, which resulted in the latter getting a match penalty and being ejected from the game.

Trainers came out to assist the 6-foot-4 winger, who was bleeding onto the ice. Bastian went down the tunnel but returned to the bench before the end of the first period.

His next shift was early in the second period. While skating into the offensive zone, he took another hit, this time from Rangers captain Jacob Trouba.

Bastian immediately went after Trouba, and the two dropped their gloves, and a fight ensued. The Devils winger was escorted to the penalty box, where he sat for seven minutes.

To this point, Bastian had only been on the ice for 48 seconds.

The Kitchener, Ontario native jumped over the boards for his third shift of the night before the horn sounded, and the players skated to their respective locker rooms for the second intermission.

Bastian did not come out for the third period.

After the game, head coach Lindy Ruff said he left the game with an injury.

"He suffered another injury later that took him out of the game, that had nothing to do with the (Rempe) hit," he said.

The Devils are off on Friday, Feb. 23 . Any further updates on Bastian must wait until Saturday's media availability before New Jersey hosts the Montreal Canadiens.

The 26-year-old has appeared in 54 games this season and has five goals and 12 points.