Devils Game Preview: New Jersey Hosts Familiar Faces in Sharks

Last night was fun. Luke Hughes scored the overtime winner after a scary hit that made us all believe he’d miss at least the rest of the game. However, tonight’s New Jersey Devils game has the potential to be even better.

The San Jose Sharks come to town for the first time since the Timo Meier trade. Devils head coach Lindy Ruff stated on Thursday that Meier is a possibility to play against his former club at home tonight.

On the other side, Fabian Zetterlund returns to The Rock for the first time since being exchanged for Meier. As does Nikita Okhotyuk, however, he’s not a regular at this point. We’ll see if he draws in.

Former Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood started for San Jose on Thursday in Boston in their embarrassing historic loss. However, Sharks head coach David Quinn said that Blackwood could still start against his former club tonight.

How to Watch

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

Projected Devils Lineup

Forwards

Ondrej Palat – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt

Tyler Toffoli – Jack Hughes – Dawson Mercer

Alexander Holtz – Michael McLeod – Curtis Lazar

Samuel Laberge – Chris Tierney – Nathan Bastian

Defensemen

Jonas Siegenthaler – Luke Hughes

Kevin Bahl – John Marino

Brendan Smith – Colin Miller

Goaltenders

Vitek Vanecek

Akira Schmid

Projected Sharks Lineup

Forwards

Fabian Zetterlund – Mikael Granlund – Anthony Duclair

William Eklund – Luke Kunin – Mike Hoffman

Jacob Macdonald – Nico Sturm – Justin Bailey

Giavani Smith – Ryan Carpenter – Kevin Labanc

Defensemen

Mario Ferraro – Ty Emberson

Calen Addison – Matt Benning

Nikita Okhotyuk – Kyle Burroughs

Goaltenders

Kaapo Kahkonen

Mackenzie Blackwood

Last Game

Metropolitan Division foes faced off as the Devils visited the Flyers on Thursday. New Jersey jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the opening frame on goals scored by Alexander Holtz and Jack Hughes. Morgan Frost scored in the middle frame to make it a 2-1 game. The Flyers exerted an extra push in the final frame scoring two goals on the sticks of Sean Walker and Tyson Foerster after Tyler Toffoli scored the Devils’ third goal of the game. Overtime lasted under 30 seconds as Jack fed Luke on an odd-man rush that sent New Jersey home with two points.

Akira Schmid registered a career-high 44 saves in the victory.

Player to Watch

Alexander Holtz is feeling himself as he’s scored three goals in his last four games. All three of Holtz’s goals have come as New Jersey’s first goal in each respective game. Furthermore, six of seven of Holtz’s goals have all opened the scoring for New Jersey this season. Holtz faces his former teammate and friend Fabian Zetterlund tonight when he returns to The Rock tonight for the first time since being traded to San Jose.

Devils vs. Sharks

Per the Devils PR, “The Devils and the Teal face-off for the first of two matchups this season:

Feb. 27, at SJS, 10:30 P.M. E.T.

The Devils were 2-0-0 against the Sharks last season, which marked the first time since 1996-97 that the team swept San Jose in a season series.

ALL-TIME vs SJS

Record: 24-17-2-4
Home: 13-9-1-2
Road: 11-8-1-2

SINCE 1982-83…

The most goals that the Devils earned in a single game vs San Jose is nine, which was recorded on Oct. 26, 1991, in a 9-0 win at the Meadowlands.
The most goals that the team allowed against San Jose is six, which was logged on Mar. 20, 2018, after a 6-2 loss at the Shark Tank.

The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs San Jose is 45, which was recorded in a 6-1 win on Nov. 7, 1992.

The most shots that the Devils allowed against the Sharks was 41, twice, and last logged on Nov. 21, 2016, in a 4-0 loss at San Jose.

The last time that the Devils shut out San Jose was Mar. 10, 2016, in a 3-0 win at San Jose (K. Kinkaid, 30 saves).

The last time San Jose shut out the Devils was on Oct. 20, 2017, in a 3-0 loss at the Rock (M. Jones, 28 saves).”

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Tue. Dec. 5, at VAN, 10:00 P.M. E.T.
Thu. Dec. 7, at SEA, 10:30 P.M. E.T.
Sat. Dec. 9, at CGY, 4:00 P.M. E.T.
Sun. Dec. 10, at EDM, 4:00 P.M. E.T.

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