The New Jersey Devils (28-28-2) are coming off a 2-1 loss in their first game back from the Olympic break Wednesday night against Buffalo. On Thursday, they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins (29-15-12). The Devils are now 11 points back of the final wild card spot with 24 games to play.
Match Overview
The Olympic break did not infuse any energy into the Devils, at least in their first game back. New Jersey was held scoreless until the game’s final few minutes as they ultimately fell 2-1 to Buffalo at the Prudential Center last night. New Jersey has now dropped each of their last four games and six of their last seven. According to MoneyPuck, the Devils have a 1.1% chance to make the playoffs.
With Jake Allen playing last night, Jacob Markström is set to handle the second game of the back-to-back Thursday night in Pittsburgh. Markström was sensational for Sweden in the Olympics as he posted a 0.936 save percentage in three games. He singlehandedly almost stole the quarterfinals game against the United States stopping 38-of-40.
The Penguins received a notable blow as a result of the Olympics as captain Sidney Crosby was injured and is expected to miss at least four weeks. Pittsburgh is enduring quite the surprising season after expectations were minimal entering the season. The Penguins currently occupy the second spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Penguins head coach Dan Muse should be near the top of Jack Adams Award lists as the Penguins’ successes have been no fluke. The Penguins ranks seventh in five-on-five expected goals-for percentage and have the fourth-ranked power play and penalty kill. Not to mention, general manager Kyle Dubas recently made a strong trade in acquiring defenseman Samuel Girard from Colorado.
The Penguins are likely to roll with former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner in net Thursday. Skinner has a 5.93 goals saved above expected this season to go along with a 0.890 save percentage on the season. Artus Silvos is his backup.
Projected Lines
Devils
Forwards
Meier – Hischier – Mercer
Bratt – Hughes – Brown
Gritsyuk – Glass – Hämeenaho
Cotter – Bjugstad – Tsyplakov
Defensemen
Pesce – Kovacevic
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Dillon – Nemec
Goaltenders
Markström
Allen
Penguins
Forwards
Hayes – Rakell – Rust
Chinakhov – Novak – Malkin
Mantha – Kindel – Brazeau
Dewar – Lizotte – Acciari
Defensemen
Wotherspoon – Karlsson
Girard – Letang
Shea – Clifton
Goaltenders
Skinner
Silvos
Games Notes
The Post-Injury Struggles Of Johnathan Kovacevic
Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic has been in a bad way since returning from injury January 11. Last night against Buffalo, Kovacevic had a bad pinch that directly led to Buffalo’s first goal and struggled overall posting a -3.27 game score according to HockeyStatCards; by far the lowest score in the game.
On the season, through 12 games, he ranks last among Devils defenseman in Corsi-for percentage, expected goals-for percentage, scoring chance for percentage, and high-danger Corsi-for percentage. It has been a disastrous start for the 28-year-old who signed a five-year, $20 million extension last season. Luckily, it is extremely early and coming off a major injury such as the one he sustained last season a slow start was expected.
Penguins A Legit Threat?
Entering the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins had the third-worst Stanley Cup odds and a point total over-under of 76.5 which was also the third-lowest. Now, according to Moneypuck, the Penguins have a 85% chance to make the playoffs.
As mentioned above, head coach Dan Muse has done a sensational job in his first season at the helm. All the results are deserved as well as the team grades out strongly at five-on-five, the power play, the penalty kill, and has also been getting positive goaltending from Stuart Skinner according to the goals saved above expected metric. This Penguins team is a legit threat and the Devils will have their hands full.
Checking On The Lottery
With the Devils’ playoff chances all but gone, eyes will turn to the NHL Draft lottery which is set to take place early May. As it stands, the Devils have the seventh-best odds at the first overall pick. Below is how the top-10 currently stands based off points percentage according to Tankathon:
- Vancouver, 43 points (58 GP)
- St. Louis, 49 points (57 GP)
- New York (R), 50 points (57 GP)
- Calgary, 52 points (56 GP)
- Chicago, 53 points (57 GP)
- Winnipeg, 54 points (57 GP)
- New Jersey, 58 points (58 GP)
- Nashville, 59 points (57 GP)
- Los Angeles, 60 points (57 GP)
- San Jose, 58 points (55 GP)
Where To Watch
Thursday night’s game can be seen on MSG. Puck drop is slated for a 7:00 pm ET at PPG Paints Arena.