Pregame: New Jersey Devils Aim to Get Back On Track After Losing Seven of Last Eight

The New Jersey Devils will play the Vegas Golden Knights at home for the first time in over two years. (Photo via. NHL.com)

Introduction

Tonight, the New Jersey Devils look to get back on track after losing three straight games to Nashville, the New York Islanders, and Philadelphia. They will play the Vegas Golden Knights who are coming into town following a 4-1 win against the Boston Bruins. Since a 5-3 win against the Lightning on November 20th, the Devils have only won two games, both against the Flyers.

Lineups

Devils’

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Golden Knights’

Forwards:

Pacioretty – Stephenson – Stone

Marchessault – Karlsson – Smith

Janmark – Kolesar – Dadonov

Carrier – Howden – Amadio

Defensemen:

Hague – Pietrangelo

McNabb – Whitecloud

Hutton – Theodore

Goalies:

Lehner

Brossoit

Pregame Notes:

  • The Devils officially have the worst power play efficiency in the NHL. They almost have as many shorthanded goals against as power play goals scored. Do the players have to take some of the blame? Definitely. But, when anything on a team is this bad, especially something specific like the power play, it probably has to do with coaching. Case in point, the Devils’ penalty kill last season compared to this season. Last season, the Devils had one of the worst penalty kill units in a long time, however this season they have a good unit. With fairly similar personnel on the penalty kill this year, it shows that the team itself changed its system. Very clearly a large part of the power play is the system, and it has to change because it’s costing the Devils important games.
  • Golden Knights’ forward Max Pacioretty has been on a roll as of late. He is on a seven-game goal-streak with 10 total goals in those games. In total, this season he has an extremely impressive 12 goals and 19 total points in only 11 games.

Odds For Tonight’s Game

The money line odds for the Devils’ tonight are +145 against the Vegas Golden Knights, courtesy of Betway. Tonight’s over under goal matchup is set at 6 goals.

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