https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foCJqUxXhpk

During last night’s game at Pittsburgh, Devils forward Jaromir Jagr was injured by Pens defenseman Robert Bortuzzo. Bortuzzo delivered a borderline hit on Jagr catching him late. It went unpenalized.

The controversial play occurred in the second period. After playing the puck behind the net, an unsuspecting Jagr was caught high by a Bortuzzo shoulder check that contacted the shoulder and chin. He was down for a couple of minutes before skating off on his own after the trainer visited him. He didn’t return.

Following a tough 1-0 defeat in which his shorthanded team gave a solid effort, Devils coach Pete DeBoer didn’t mince words.

”Totally unnecessary,” he fumed. ”You know, if one of our guys had done that to Crosby there’d be World War Four.”

His commentary is eerily similar to John Tortorella, who trashed the Pens a couple of years ago for a cheap hit former Pen Brooks Orpik delivered on Derek Stepan.

”I thought the puck was there,” responded Bortuzzo. ”I kept my shoulder down, felt like I hit him in the chest. It’s unfortunate he went out of the game, but like I said, just playing hard.”

While I’m sure there was no intent, the hit was late and injured Jagr. The Devils next game is Thursday at Toronto. If he can’t go, that would be a big blow. The 42-year old future Hall Of Famer played in all 82 games last year pacing the Devils in scoring with 67 points. He leads them in assists (11) and points (15) thus far. With an injury sidelining Travis Zajac, recently signed Scott Gomez returned to his first team and logged over 22 minutes centering Jagr and Patrik Elias. Elias also left the game with an injury.

The Devils don’t see the Pens again until the end of the month. Pittsburgh visits Newark on December 29. That one will be circled.

”I’m not going to forget what number (Bortuzzo) is,” Jordin Tootoo said. ”It’s a long season, so at the same time, we have to worry about our guys in the locker room here and get back on the winning ways.”