<p><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-jersey-devils/line-combinations">New Jersey Devils</a> head coach Sheldon Keefe has been fined $25,000 for unprofessional conduct, the National Hockey League <a href="https://media.nhl.com/public/news/18757">announced</a> Wednesday.</p>



<p>The fine follows an incident that occured with less than two minutes remaining in Sunday’s 2-0 road loss to the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/vegas-golden-knights/line-combinations">Vegas Golden Knights</a> that saw Keefe assessed with a two-minute bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. Keefe was also penalized with a game misconduct, resulting in his ejection from the game.</p>



<p>Keefe’s frustration with the on-ice officials came after Devils star forward Jack Hughes was knocked into the end boards by Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, who was not assessed a penalty on the play. Hughes suffered an undisclosed injury on the play, an ailment that later kept him out of the lineup Tuesday versus the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/dallas-stars/line-combinations">Dallas Stars</a>, while his return to the lineup remains undetermined. Through 62 games this season, Hughes sits tied for first in Devils’ scoring with 70 points counting 27 goals and 43 assists coming in 62 games.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="161"></div>



<p>“It’s tough to see [the injury],” Keefe <a href="http://nhl.com/devils/video/keefe-post-raw-3-2-25-6369541089112">told reporters</a> following the loss to the Golden Knights. “Especially with it being a play that [Hughes] got called on earlier in the period. Not only does he get injured on the play, but there is no call. And then I get kicked off the bench for telling the referee that I thought it was 10 times worse than the one that was previously called on Jack.”</p>



<p>In his first season behind the bench in New Jersey, Keefe has guided the Devils to a 33-24-6 record to rank third place in the Metropolitan Division with 72 points. Prior to joining the Devils, the 44-year-old Keefe spent five seasons as head coach of the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>. In 2018, Keefe won a Calder Cup championship as bench boss of the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="143"></div>
