About Last Night

After a three-game winning streak, last night’s New Jersey Devils’ game was not one fans would like to remember. Just like their first two games of the season, both losses as well, the Devils took an early 1-0 lead. Then the Washington Capitals attacked.

The Capitals would score five unanswered goals to jump up a 5-2 lead. Point to the usual suspects of bad goaltending and poor finishing as well as some defensive miscues. Mackenzie Blackwood allowed five goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Vitek Vanecek to start the third.

New Jersey was able to cut that deficit down to 5-3 before Washington tickled the twine with their sixth goal to all but put that one away. Jesper Bratt, who has at least a point in every game this season, scored his first goal as the Devils ended their first homestand 3-1-0. New Jersey outshot Washington on a nearly 2-1 margin (41-22 shot advantage).

Onto Detroit

On short rest, the Devils travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings. The Red Wings (3-0-2) have yet to lose a game in regulation this season. The two teams last matched up just over a week ago when the Red Wings ruined Jersey’s home opener. Alex Nedeljkovic was in net for their first meeting. Will he get his second start against New Jersey or will offseason acquisition Ville Husso get the nod?

Husso’s last start against New Jersey was an overtime loss last March while he was still with the St. Louis Blues. Dougie Hamilton scored the game winner that night, and Hamilton scored the opening goal in last week’s matchup against Detroit. Will Hamilton add another to score in two consecutive games against Detroit and two separate consecutive games versus Husso?

Detroit’s power play is league average, hovering in 14^th place. New Jersey remains in the bottom third. The Devils’ old nemesis the shorthanded goal also made an appearance in Monday’s loss. Hopefully that’s not a sign to come on what as otherwise been a strong Devils penalty kill in this young season.

Projected Lineups

New Jersey Devils –

Please check back to our social media pages around 5:00 P.M. ET for lineup news.

Detroit Red Wings –

Forwards:

Dominik Kubalik – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond

Filip Zadina – Andrew Copp – David Perron

Elmer Soderblom – Michael Rasmussen – Oskar Sundqvist

Pius Suter – Joe Veleno – Adam Erne

Defensemen:

Ben Chariot – Moritz Seider

Olli Maatta – Filip Hronek

Robert Hagg – Gustav Lindstrom

Goaltenders:

Alex Nedeljkovic

Ville Husso

Who And What To Watch For

Vitek Vanecek

Goaltender Vitek Vanecek is expected to get his second start of the season with Mackenzie Blackwood getting the start on Monday against the Washington Capitals. Vanecek’s only start of this regular season has also been against these Detroit Red Wings, and the results weren’t pretty. Blackwood was able to right the ship after his season opening start was a dud, can Vanecek do the same?

Dylan Larkin

Detroit Red Wings’ captain, Dylan Larkin, scored three points (one goal, two assists) against the Devils in their first matchup this season. Larkin comes into Tuesday seeking a three-game point streak. He trails only Dominik Kubalik (eight points in five games) for the Red Wings’ scoring lead with seven points in five games.

Head-To-Head Matchup

The season may be young, but Detroit is a top-10 team in several traditional-statistical categories. Offensively, they rank sixth in goals for per game. Defensively, eighth in goals against per game. Meanwhile, New Jersey has them beat in shots per game (second, compared to Detroit’s 14th place) and shots against per game (New Jersey has the fewest allowed, Detroit has the ninth-most allowed).

Tonight’s game, at Little Caesars Arena, will be broadcast on MSG Sportsnet at 7:00 P.M. ET.