The New Jersey Devils (4-1-0) will look to extend their winning streak to three games against the Carolina Hurricanes (0-1-0) on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
The Devils handed the Utah Hockey Club their first loss of the season on Monday afternoon in a 3-0 shutout victory at home. With the Devils on the first of a back-to-back, Jake Allen started in net for New Jersey and made 20 saves for his first shutout of the season. Rookie defenseman Seamus Casey stayed hot, scoring his third goal of the season on the power play and also adding an assist. Stefan Noesen also scored and captain Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist.
The Devils have eight points on the season to lead the Metropolitan division.
Match Overview
The Devils have had a great start to the season and it appears things can only get better. Defensemen Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce are yet to return this season. Pesce should be back in the lineup soon. Hughes is a bit further away.
Paul Cotter remains the Devils’ leading goal scorer with four on the season. The third line of Cotter, Erik Haula, and Noesen has been fantastic to start 2023-24. That trio has combined for six goals and 15 points through five games. One player we have yet to see score is center Jack Hughes, though has been playing better each game.
As for the Hurricanes, they lost their season opener to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Friday. The two teams were supposed to play a home-and-home but Saturday’s contest in Tampa was postponed due to Hurricane Milton. Jordan Staal scored the lone goal for Carolina in the loss while Frederik Andersen made 19 saves on 21 shots (the Lightning scored two empty-net goals).
Carolina swept the series with the Devils 3-0-0 last season. But the Hurricanes enter this season with a vastly different lineup. Forwards Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen each left via free agency. The Devils signed Noesen and Pesce away from the Hurricanes in free agency as well. The Hurricanes still have a strong forward group led by Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas. But Carolina lacks the depth that made the team so tough to play against.
Projected Lineup
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Meier – Hughes – Bratt
Tatar – Hischier – Mercer
Cotter – Haula – Noesen
Palat – Lazar – Bastian
Defense
Dillon – Hamilton
Siegenthaler – Kovacevic
Casey – Nemec
Goalies
Markstrom
Allen
Carolina Hurricanes
Forwards
Svechnikov – Aho – Jarvis
Roslovic – Kotkaniemi – Necas
Martinook – Staal – Carrier
Robinson – Drury – Blake
Defense
Slavin – Burns
Orlov – Chatfied
Gostisbehere – Walker
Goalies
Andersen
Kochetkov
What to Watch For
Jack Hughes
Hughes had a power-play assist in the win against Utah, but has just three assists in five games so far this season. He does have 15 shots on goal in that span and is driving play when his line is on the ice. But, the Devils are going to need their best players to start producing more at even strength, including Hughes. Even the power play hasn’t been up-to-par despite the Devils’ success early in the season. In a big spot, the Devils really need Hughes to get going.
Jacob Markstrom
Markstrom has been just fine through three starts this season. He has a .906 save percentage with seven of his eight goals allowed coming at even strength. His goals saved above expected (GSAx), according to Evolving Hockey, sits at -0.39. Basically, he’s played as expected based off what he has faced.
After a tremendous opening game, Markstrom hasn’t been that great over his last two starts, posting negative GSAx numbers in each. Against a tough Carolina squad, New Jersey may need to lean on Markstrom more, and if that’s the case, he’ll need to be better than he has been.
Where to Watch?
The game is slated to begin at 7:00 pm ET on MSG.