Game Preview: Devils Host the Wild First in Home-and-Home

The New Jersey Devils (4-2-1) and Minnesota Wild (3-3-2) take part in the first leg of a home-and-home mini-series today at the Prudential Center. Captain Nico Hischier will sit on the sideline of this one as a result of an illegal check to the head by Connor Clifton. The Buffalo Sabres defenseman received a two-game suspension, however, there’s no timetable for Hischier’s absence from the Devils’ lineup. Here’s the rest of what you need to know when the Devils host the Wild.

Time: 5:00 PM      Watch/Stream: MSGSN/MSG+      Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Projected Devils Lineup

Tyler Toffoli-Jack Hughes-Timo Meier

Ondrej Palat-Dawson Mercer-Jesper Bratt

Erik Haula-Michael McLeod-Curtis Lazar

Alexander Holtz-Chris Tierney-Nathan Bastian

Jonas Siegenthaler-Dougie Hamilton

Kevin Bahl-John Marino

Brendan Smith-Luke Hughes

Akira Schmid

Vitek Vanecek

Projected Wild Lineup

Kirill Kaprizov-Ryan Hartman-Mats Zuccarello

Marcus Johansson-Joel Eriksson Ek-Patrick Maroon

Marcus Foligno-Marco Rossi-Vinni Lettieri

Brandon Duhaime-Connor Dewar

Jonas Brodin-Brock Faber

Jacob Middleton-Dakota Mermis

Daemon Hunt-Calen Addison

Jon Merrill

Filip Gustavsson

Marc-Andre Fleury

Last Game

A pair of goals by Erik Haula, including the game-winner, helped secure a 5-4 win over the Sabres on Friday. Jack Hughes continued his seven-game point streak, scoring the Devils’ fourth goal of the game in the third period. Jesper Bratt and Alexander Holtz chipped in single tallies en route to New Jersey’s fourth win of the season. Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves on 27 shots.

Player to Watch

Typically, this section has been saved for Jack Hughes. However, there’s a new Hughes in town and his name is Luke. The rookie defenseman has been coming into his own lately and has even seen some top-line minutes alongside Dougie Hamilton. Hughes earned his second career multi-point game, after Friday night’s contest vs Buffalo (0g-2a), which also marked his first career multi-assist game. Additionally, Luke led New Jersey in time on ice over the last two contests including 23:56 logged against the Capitals which marked a career-high.

Devils vs. Wild

Per the Devils PR, “The Devils and Minnesota face-off for the first of two matchups and in consecutive games for the Devils.

Nov. 3, at MIN, 8:00 P.M. E.T.

ALL-TIME vs THE STATE OF HOCKEY (Wild)

Record: 15-9-2-3
Home: 8-4-1-2
Road: 7-5-1-1

DID YOU KNOW…

The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs Minnesota is seven, which was logged on Mar. 17, 2016, in a 7-4 win at the Rock.

The most goals that the franchise allowed in a single game vs Minnesota is six, which was recorded on Mar. 10, 2015, in a 6-2 loss at ‘Sota.

The most shots that the franchise earned in a single game vs Minnesota is 48, which was earned in a 2-1 overtime loss on Mar. 21, 2023, at the Rock.

The most shots that the franchise allowed in a single game vs Minnesota is 39, which was logged on Dec. 3, 2005, in a 2-2 shootout win at Continental Airlines Arena.

The last, and only, time that the Devils shut out Minnesota was on Mar. 20, 2009, in a 4-0 win at the Rock (M. Brodeur, 35 saves).

The last time that Minnesota shut out the Devils was on Mar. 26, 2011, in a 2-0 loss at Buffalo (R. Miller, 28 saves).

The Devils and Wild’s first-ever matchup was on Jan. 21, 2001, at Minnesota, after a 4-2 win.”

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Thu. Nov. 2, at MIN, 8:00 P.M. E.T.
Fri. Nov. 3, at STL, 8:00 P.M. E.T.
Sun. Nov. 5, at CHI, 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Tue. Nov. 7, at COL, 10:00 PM E.T.

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