Devils at Panthers: Betting Odds, How to Watch, Projected Lines, & More

The New Jersey Devils hit the ice early on Saturday for morning skate ahead of their tilt with the Florida Panthers.

It’s a rare 6:00 PM start time tonight as all 32 NHL teams are in action. That means more hockey and fewer commercials for you.

Hooray!

Anyway, morning skate revealed the same line combinations the head coach Lindy Ruff rolled out on Thursday night. The only projected change for tonight is that Nico Daws will man New Jersey’s crease.

New Jersey is faced with the tall order of trying to sever the momentum behind the Panthers. Florida’s put together a nine-game win streak heading into tonight’s contest with the Devils. At the forefront of the streak are Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk. A win tonight for the Panthers would be the third single-season winning streak in franchise history of 10-plus games.

So what do the Devils need to do to get back in the win column and halt the Panthers where they stand?

“Almost everything we did last game,” Ruff explained. “Move the puck quickly, get up the ice in a hurry. Our forecheck was good (on Thursday). We need to try and repeat exactly what we did.”

As opposed to Thursday, the Devils will need to play stronger defensively and hope for an extra save or two against a more formidable Panthers squad.

Let’s dive into the details of tonight’s Devils and Panthers tilt.

How to Watch

Time: 06:00 PM      Watch/Stream: MSGSN/MSG+      Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Projected Devils Lineup

Forwards

Erik Haula – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Tyler Toffoli – Michael McLeod – Jesper Bratt

Chris Tierney – Curtis Lazar – Alexander Holtz

Max Willman – Shane Bowers – Nathan Bastian

Defensemen

Brendan Smith – Simon Nemec

Luke Hughes – John Marino

Kevin Bahl – Colin Miller

Goaltenders

Nico Daws

Vitek Vanecek

Projected Panthers Lines

Forwards

Evan Rodrigues – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Ryan Lomberg

Will Lockwood – Kevin Stenlund – Jonah Gadjovich

Defensemen

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Brandon Montour

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Dmitry Kulikov

Goaltenders

Sergei Bobrovsky

Anthony Stolarz

Last Game

New Jersey’s first matchup in Florida went to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dawson Mercer got things going, scoring an assertive goal for the Devils to kick off the first period. However, two quick strikes by the Lightning on the stick of Luke Glendening twice saw the Devils trail after the opening 20 minutes. Brayden Point piled on in the second period, however, Jesper Bratt and Nathan Bastian tied things at three and sent the game to overtime. Darren Raddysh called game, however, securing the extra point for the Lightning in the extra period.

Vitek Vanecek made 16 saves on 20 shots in the Devils’ 4-3 loss.

Player to Watch

In the absence of Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer is stepping up. Mercer owns nine points (6g-3a) over the team’s last 10 games played dating to Dec. 19, 2023. Mercer’s six goals lead New Jersey over that 10-game span, while his nine points are tied with J. Bratt (3g-6a).

Devils vs. Panthers

According to the Devils’ PR, “The Devils and Florida face-off for the second of three matchups in 2023-24 (0-1-0).

Next: Mar. 5, vs FLA, 7:00 P.M. E.T.

Jersey’s team suffered a 4-3 loss against Florida on Oct. 16, 2023, at the Rock. Netminder Vitek Vanecek suffered the loss between
the pipes, while the Devils received scoring from Jesper Bratt, Michael McLeod, and Erik Haula.

ALL-TIME vs FLA

Record: 57-36-7-7
Home: 33-17-3-2
Road: 24-19-4-5

SINCE 1982-83…

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 DEVILS SCHEDULE

Jan. 15 At BOS 1:00 P.M. E.T.
Jan. 17 Vs MTL 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Jan. 19 At CBJ 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Jan. 20 Vs DAL 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Jan. 22 Vs VGK 7:00 P.M. E.T.

Betting Odds

Devils – Panthers Odds

Moneyline Odds

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