The Slash That Cody Glass Will Never Let Jacob Markstrom Forget

Just under three months ago, the New Jersey Devils were down 3–1 to the Carolina Hurricanes when goaltender Jacob Markstrom, frustrated, appeared to take a swing with his stick at the player in front of his net. But he missed who he appeared to be going for, Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, and instead slashed his teammate, Cody Glass. To this day, Glass hasn’t let Markstrom forget it.

The date was April 20, 2025. Earlier in the game, veteran defenseman Brenden Dillon had exited after a collision with a Hurricanes player. Later, defenseman Luke Hughes ended up in the back of the net following another hit. He injured his shoulder but managed to play through it.

Things were unraveling quickly for New Jersey. They were trailing on the scoreboard, already down one defenseman, had another who somehow ended up in the net, and it was only Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

As Svechnikov tried to make it 4–1, he fired a shot at Markstrom, who made the save and then attempted to retaliate by swinging his stick. Unbeknownst to him, Cody Glass was skating across the crease at that very moment. Markstrom, facing the other direction, didn’t see him.

Glass ended up taking the full brunt of the slash, which looked like it was intended for Svechnikov. He immediately dropped to the ice and left the game.

Now missing two defensemen, the Devils couldn’t mount a comeback. Svechnikov later got the goal he wanted, this time into an empty net with 2:30 remaining, sealing a 4–1 win for Carolina.

Speaking to NJD.TV the following Monday, Markstrom said, “Whatever everyone has been seeing, that is what happened. I mean, it is pretty clear-cut, and obviously, I feel really bad. It’s a situation that did not have to happen. It was a heat-of-the-moment play, unfortunately, and I felt bad for [Glass]. You don’t want to see or be the reason that anyone goes down.”

Fortunately for the Devils, Glass returned to play the remainder of the series, missing only the third period of Game 1. He suited up for all five games.

Unfortunately, the series ended just like Game 1 did: in a 4–1 win for the Hurricanes. The Devils managed to take only one game, Game 3, and were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Reflecting on the series, Glass said, “Obviously, I wish it could have gone a lot better. It’s something I think about all the time, but I think it’s also something that’s going to drive me this summer.”

Now, three months later, the Devils have signed Glass to a two-year, $5 million contract. Though there was uncertainty about whether the team would re-sign him, New Jersey ultimately decided to keep him around and signed him on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

“I wanted to stay [in New Jersey] the whole time,” Glass told reporters. “I’m glad it got done.”

The goaltender and the 26-year-old center will now share the ice again this season. And Cody Glass may never let Jacob Markstrom live down what happened in Game 1. The accidental slash to Glass’s midsection came up again in the wake of his signing.

“Marky is one of the greatest guys of all time,” Glass said with a smile, “besides the time when he slashed me, but that was kind of my fault.”

It was only Glass’s fourth playoff game ever, having played three postseason games previously with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Nashville Predators.

Now, the focus shifts forward. Both Glass and Markstrom will aim to help the Devils return to the playoffs, and this time, make a deeper run without any friendly fire.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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