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Game Preview: Devils Host the Red Wings in Season Opener

New Jersey defearted Detroit in two out of three contests in 2022-23.

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Game Preview: Devils Host the Red Wings in Season Opener

The New Jersey Devils are set to kick off their 2023-24 regular season tonight at the Prudential Center. The Detroit Red Wings are in town looking to prove their upgrades and additions this summer will take them to the next level. Here’s all you need to know when the Devils host the Red Wings tonight.



Time: 7:30 PM      Watch: ESPN+/Hulu      Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Last Game

Thursday marks the first day of the 2023-24 regular season for New Jersey. In their final preseason game, the Devils dressed their junior varsity squad, giving the majority of their varsity players the night off. The New York Islanders iced an NHL-heavy lineup against New Jersey’s B-squad. However, the junior Devils squad routed the Isles to a 3-0 victory. Max Willman opened the scoring and as a result, earned a contract following his professional tryout. Kevin Bahl and Simon Nemec each scored in the second period to pad New Jersey’s lead. Akira Schmid shut the door in the third period despite a heavy pushback from New York. Following a rough previous start, Schmid rebounded in the Devils’ preseason finale, pitching a shutout and stopping 30/30 pucks.

Projected Devils Lineup

Tyler Toffoli-Jack Hughes-Jesper Bratt

Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Dawson Mercer

Ondrej Palat-Erik Haula-Alexander Holtz

Tomas Nosek-Michael McLeod-Nathan Bastian

Jonas Siegenthaler-Dougie Hamilton

Kevin Bahl-John Marino

Luke Hughes-Brendan Smith

Vitek Vanecek

Akira Schmid

Projected Red Wings Lineup

Alex DeBrincat-Dylan Larkin-David Perron

Robby Fabbri-JT Compher-Lucas Raymond

Daniel Sprong-Andrew Copp-Michael Rasmussen

Klim Kostin-Joe Veleno-Christian Fischer

Jake Walman-Moritz Seider

Ben Chiarot-Jeff Petry

Shayne Gostisbehere-Olli Maatta

Ville Husso

James Reimer

Player to Watch

Dawson Mercer enters his third season with the Devils since being selected 18th overall by New Jersey in the 2020 NHL Draft. Mercer (21) has compiled back-to-back 82-game seasons for New Jersey in his first two NHL seasons. The native of Newfoundland broke out last season to score 27 goals and 56 points in his sophomore year. As a fixture in the Devils’ top six and power play. Skating alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier at 5on5, Mercer can reach new heights in 2023-24. On the power play, Mercer is projected to skate with Hischier, Meier, Alexander Holtz, and Dougie Hamilton. Entering Thursday night, Mercer sits at 98 career points and needs just two more to reach the century mark.

Devils/Red Wings

Per the Devils PR, “The Devils and Detroit face off for the first of three matchups this season:

Nov. 22 at DET, 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Dec. 23 vs DET, 7:00 P.M. E.T.

New Jersey logged a 2-1-0 record vs Detroit and collected both wins in the Motor City (last season).

The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs Detroit is eight, which was earned in an 8-5 win on Mar. 9, 1985, at
Detroit.

The most goals that the Devils allowed in a single game vs Detroit in eight, three times, last logged on Feb. 9, 1993, in an 8-5 loss at Detroit.

The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs Detroit is 44, which was recorded on Feb. 12, 1990, after a 1-1 tie at New
Jersey.

The most shots that the Devils allowed in a single game vs Detroit is 47, which was logged on Feb. 23, 1982, in a 6-3 loss at New
Jersey.

The last time the Devils shut out the Red Wings was Jan. 28, 2003, after a 1-0 win at New Jersey (M. Brodeur, 15 saves).
The last time Detroit shut out the Devils was Apr. 24, 2022, after a 3-0 loss at the Rock (A. Nedeljkovic, 17 saves).

The two foes have met once in the postseason, which was during the 1994-95 Stanley Cup Final (Devils, 4-0, Stanley Cup champions).”

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Fri., Oct. 12 vs ARI, 7:00 P.M.
Mon., Oct. 16, vs FLA, 7:00 P.M.
Fri., Oct. 20, at NYI, 7:30 P.M.
Tue., Oct. 24, at MTL, 7:15 P.M.

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