Tonight, the New Jersey Devils (22-16-3) host the Montreal Canadiens (18-18-7). The Devils are coming off a 3-0 loss at Boston while Montreal beat the Avalanche the last time out. This is the second meeting of the year between the teams after New Jersey won 5-2 in Montreal back in October.
Match Overview
Timo Meier was back at practice today and is expected to make his return to the lineup tonight. Meier has not played since December 30 in Boston. He has nine goals and six assists in 28 games this season.
However, it was not only good news in terms of injuries today. Brendan Smith has a sprained knee that he suffered on Monday in Boston, and he is out for a “little bit of time,” per Amanda Stein. Cal Foote is expected to take his place. Also, Luke Hughes is sick and missed practice, but is expected to play tonight, per Stein.
Nico Daws was in the starter’s net at practice, per Stein, so he is expected to start a third consecutive game tonight. In his last two starts, he stopped 68 of 71 shots against. On the season, he has a .922 save percentage and has stopped 3.56 goals above expected (GSAx).
As for Montreal, Sam Montembeault is expected to play tonight. He has posted a .909 save percentage and a 6.94 GSAx this season.
Montreal will also be without Christian Dvorak, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Tanner Pearson, and Josh Anderson due to injury tonight.
Among healthy Canadiens’ skaters, Nick Suzuki leads the way with 37 points while Cole Caufield leads the team with 13 goals. Mike Matheson has had a solid year, leading Montreal blueliners with 31 points.
Projected Lines
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Toffoli – Hischier – Bratt
Meier – McLeod – Mercer
Haula – Lazar – Bastian
Willman – Tierney – Holtz
Defensemen
With Brendan Smith out, Cal Foote drawing in, and Luke Hughes missing practice, the Devils did not have set pairings at practice. Check out our social channels closer to puck drop for updated pairings.
Goaltenders
Daws
Vanecek
Montreal Canadiens
Forwards
Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
Harvey-Pinard – Evans – Gallagher
Roy – Monahan – Armia
Pezzetta – Stephens – Ylonen
Defensemen
Guhle – Matheson
Struble – Savard
Harris – Barron
Goaltenders
Montembeault
Allen
What To Watch For
Nico Hischier Line
With an injury-depleted lineup over the recent three-game road trip, the Devils leaned heavily on their star players, and that will likely continue tonight. Nico Hischier, Tyler Toffoli, and Jesper Bratt are expected to skate together at the Devils’ top line tonight.
Over the road trip, Toffoli and Bratt were centered by Michael McLeod, and played well the first two games before a tough final game in Boston, posting just a 28.10 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%).
However, Hischier posted a 55.29 xGF% on the road trip, the fifth-best mark among Devils’ skaters, so Lindy Ruff is hoping that he can continue to get the best out of Bratt and Toffoli. So far this season, this trio has played together for just five minutes at five-on-five, so it will be interesting to see if they can dominate the ice the way one might expect tonight.
Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec
Monday in Boston, Luke Hughes logged a career-high 28:10 of ice time. With Brendan Smith being injured in the first period and other penalty kill options like Jonas Siegenthaler already out of the lineup, that total even included over a minute of penalty kill time.
Meanwhile, Nemec was second on the team with 25:25 of ice time. He also logged over a minute and a half on the penalty kill. Nemec was also the only Devils’ defenseman to finish the contest with an xGF% north of 50 at five-on-five with a 51.78. Hughes was second with a 43.59.
Lindy Ruff is leaning more and more on his young, top prospect defensemen, and both have adjusted to the NHL well. For the entire season, both have an xGF% north of 54. With Cal Foote drawing into the lineup tonight, the Devils will need both young blueliners to continue their strong play, but both have been up to the challenge so far.
Where To Watch
Puck drop for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on MSGSN.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick