Game Preview: New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers

Sasha Barkov returns to Newark with the Florida Panthers (0-0-2) as they visit the Prudential Center Monday night to face Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils (1-0-1). The Devils showed a bit of a new look in the forward group on Sunday.

Let’s dive into Monday night’s game preview.

Time: 7:00 PM      Watch: MSGN/MSG+      Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Projected Devils Lineup

Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Ondrej Palat

Tyler Toffoli-Jack Hughes-Jesper Bratt

Dawson Mercer-Erik Haula-Alexander Holtz

Curtis Lazar-Michael McLeod-Nathan Bastian

Jonas Siegenthaler-Dougie Hamilton

Kevin Bahl-John Marino

Luke Hughes-Brendan Smith

Vitek Vanecek

Akira Schmid

Projected Panthers Lineup

Carter Verhaeghe-Aleksander Barkov-Evan Rodrigues

Mackie Samoskevich-Eetu Luostarinen-Matthew Tkachuk

Nick Cousins-Anton Lundell-Sam Reinhart

Ryan Lomberg-Kevin Stenlund-Steven Lorentz   

Gusts Forsling-Oliver Ekman-Larson

Niko Mikkola-Dmitry Kulikov

Josh Mahura-Uvis Balinskis

Sergei Bobrovsky

Anthony Stolarz

Last Game

On Saturday night, the Devils stumbled out of the gate for the second game in a row against the Arizona Coyotes. New Jersey was heavily outshot again in the first period, however, Akira Schmid kept the Devils within reach after the opening frame. Jesper Bratt collected three points (2g,1a), as did Jack Hughes with three helpers. Logan Cooley’s two-assist night, however, helped Arizona send the game to overtime. When that wasn’t enough, the Devils and Coyotes settled things in a shootout in which the latter walked away with the victory. Schmid high quality performance ended in 33 saves on 36 shots. Karen Vejmelka’s valiant effort against the Devils saw him stop 36 picks out of 30 shots.

Player to Watch

Entering Monday night’s contest against the Cats, Jack Hughes has collected five points (two goals and three assists) in two games. The most points that a player has earned in Devils franchise history through the first three games is six. Six players, including Jesper Bratt, have accomplished the feat dating back to the 1985-86 season. Hughes has the opportunity to break the record by recording two points tonight, which would see him earn the most points in franchise history through the first three games of the season.

Devils vs. Panthers

According to Devils PR, “The Devils and Florida face-off for the first of three matchups this season:

Jan. 13, at FLA, 6:00 P.M. E.T.
Mar. 5, vs FLA, 7:00 P.M. E.T.

New Jersey logged a 1-2-0 record vs Florida in 2022-23.

ALL-TIME vs FLA

Record:57-35-7-7

Home:33-16-3-2

Road:24-19-4-5

The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs Florida is seven goals, which was earned twice, last earned: Nov. 9,
2021, at the Rock (7-3, W).

The most goals that the Devils allowed in a single game vs Florida is seven, which was logged on Apr. 2, 2022, in a 7-6 overtime loss at the Rock.

The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs Florida is 50, which was recorded on Mar. 23, 2004, in a 4-3 win at Florida. The most shots that the Devils allowed in a single game vs Florida is 47, which was logged on Apr. 10, 1994, in a 2-2 tie at Florida.

The last time that the Devils shut out Florida was on Jan. 20, 2010, after a 2-0 win at the Rock (M. Brodeur, 22 saves). The last time Florida shut out the Devils was on Jan. 9, 2017, in a 2-0 loss at the Rock (R. Luongo, 28 saves). The Devils and Florida met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice. New Jersey swept the Cats in 1999-00 during the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals and then eliminated Florida in seven games during the 2011-12 ECF Quarter-Finals.”

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Fri., Oct. 20, at NYI, 7:30 P.M.
Tue., Oct. 24, at MTL, 7:15 P.M.
Wed. Oct. 25, vs WSH, 7:30 P.M.
Fri. Oct. 27, vs BUF, 7:00 P.M.

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