Game Preview: New Jersey Devils @ Pittsburgh Penguins - 01/08/24
The Battle of the Metro Division:
The New Jersey Devils (22-19-2, 46 points, 7th place in the Metropolitan Division) are set to face the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-12-9, 49 points, 5th place in the Metropolitan Division) in an intriguing Eastern Conference showdown.
When and Where:
The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with the game broadcast locally on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and MSGSN, and streaming on ESPN+.
The Pens' Busy Schedule:
This game marks the start of a challenging period for the Penguins, who will play three games in four days over the weekend. They'll host the Calgary Flames on Friday afternoon, travel to Boston on Sunday, and then return home for a crucial series against Tampa, Philadelphia, and Columbus next week.
Devils' Struggles:
The Devils are going through a rough patch, having lost 9-0 to the Islanders on Tuesday night. Since the start of December, they've struggled, going 6-11-1, and finding their rhythm has been a challenge. Their recent form has been 2-3-1 since Christmas and 2-5-1 in the last eight games.
Season Series:
New Jersey took the first meeting, winning 2-1 in a shootout on November 8th. The teams will meet twice more this season, on February 26th in Pittsburgh and April 9th in New Jersey.
Hidden Stat:
The Devils have scored 0 or 1 goals in 11 of their last 25 games, with a lowly 2.08 goals per game average. This is the worst in the NHL during that stretch, and they've been shut out five times, including their last game.
Devils' Lineup:
Forwards:
- Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt
- Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer, Arseni Gritsyuk
- Paul Cotter, Luke Glendening, Stefan Noesen
- Ondrej Palat, Cody Glass, Connor Brown
Defensemen:
- Jonas Siegenthaler, Dougie Hamilton
- Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce
- Brenden Dillon, Simon Nemec
Goalies: Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom
Potential Scratches: Juho Lammikko, Colton White, Dennis Cholowski
Injured Reserve: Evgenii Dadonov
Return of the Nemec:
The good news is that Simon Nemec is expected to return to the lineup after missing time due to injury, and Paul Cotter is also approaching a return.
Palat's Demotion:
Ondrej Palat has been moved down to the fourth line.
Goalie Decision:
Jake Allen is likely to start in goal tonight, as he's been the better of the two goalies this season. The Devils' decision to keep Jacob Markstrom in the game despite his poor performance against the Islanders was surprising.
Devils' Struggles Continued:
The Devils' struggles are evident in their statistics. They are one of the few teams without a top 70 point scorer or a top 80 goal scorer, which is a concerning position to be in midway through the season.
Underperforming Stars:
Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier, who combined for 88 points and 35 goals last season, are underperforming this year. Jack Hughes and Timo Meier, who had 123 points together last season, have only 49 so far.
Key Matchup: Containing the Struggling Devils:
The Penguins will face a team that has struggled to score, finish, and defend. The Devils' goaltenders have been poor, and their penalty kill is ineffective. It will be fascinating to see if they can turn their fortunes around.
Pens' Lineup:
Forwards:
- Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust
- Ben Kindel, Evgeni Malkin, Yegor Chinakhov
- Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak, Justin Brazeau
- Connor Dewar, Blake Lizotte, Noel Acciari
Defensemen:
- Parker Wotherspoon, Erik Karlsson
- Brett Kulak, Kris Letang
- Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany
Goalies: Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs
Potential Scratches: Ville Koivunen, Kevin Hayes, Connor Clifton
Injured Reserve: Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones, Rutger McGroarty
McGroarty's Concussion:
Rutger McGroarty was placed on the IR yesterday after suffering a concussion in practice due to a collision with a teammate.
Malkin's Lineup:
Evgeni Malkin's lineup has been decided, and he won't be reunited with his previous line of Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. The coaches can adjust this if needed during the game.
Pens' Hot Streak:
The Penguins are on a roll, with a 5-0-0 record since Christmas. They are near the top in multiple statistical categories, including wins, points, goals for, and goals against.
Crosby's Rising Rank:
Sidney Crosby, on a five-game point streak, is closing in on Ray Bourque's record for most assists with one franchise. Crosby is only 26 assists behind Bourque, who played 1,516 games with the Bruins.
