Devils Notebook: Lineup Tweaks, Meier’s Return, First Time Facing Blackwood

The New Jersey Devils are in San Jose to take on the Sharks tonight in Timo Meier’s first game back at SAP Center.

“It’s definitely special,” Meier explained upon his return. “It’s going to be weird tonight but it’s an important game for us, we’ve got to win a hockey game once the puck drops, it’s straight business.”

Adding to the emotion of Tuesday night’s tilt, former Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will start for the Sharks, his first game against New Jersey since he signed in San Jose this summer. The Sharks visited the Devils earlier this year, however, it was Kaapo Kahkonen between the Sharks’ pipes making 41 saves in San Jose’s victory.

Former Devils Fabian Zetterlund and Nikita Okhotiuk are expected to be in the lineup as well, according to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng.

It appears head coach Lindy Ruff is making some tweaks to the lineup again.

Tuesday’s Pre-Game Workflow

Forwards

Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt

Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Curtis Lazar

Tyler Toffoli  – Erik Haula – Dawson Mercer

Tomas Nosek – Chris Tierney – Alexander Holtz

Brian Halonen

Defense

Kevin Bahl – John Marino

Luke Hughes – Brendan Smith

Jonas Siegenthaler – Simon Nemec

Colin Miller – Nick DeSimone

Goaltenders

Nico Daws

Akira Schmid

Despite the Devils’ defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, Curtis Lazar performed well turning in a strong performance. He’s evidently been rewarded with a promotion to Jack Hughes’ line with Ondrej Palat

Nico Daws worked the starter’s crease. He’s New Jersey’s projected starting goaltender on Tuesday against the Sharks. Daws received his first day off game action on Sunday after helping the Devils defeat the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

New Jersey takes part in their first of three games on their California road trip tonight.

How to Watch

Time: 10:30 PM

Watch/Stream: MSGSN/MSG+

Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

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