The New Jersey Devils (40-36-3) are traveling to take on the Detroit Red Wings (41-29-9) in the first of a back-to-back set over the weekend. The Devils season is all but finished, but the Red Wings are clinging on for dear life in the playoff race.
Matchup Overview
The Devils are focusing on the 2026-27 season. After shutting down Arseny Gritsyuk for the remainder of the season, defenseman Luke Hughes and goaltender Jacob Markström has also been shutdown for the rest of the year. Hughes was injured in the beginning of the year and while surgery was on the table, he opted to play through to help the team. Getting this done so he is ready for next season is a the smart play. Nico Daws is confirmed to start Sunday against the Ottawa Senators and the Devils also called up prospect defenseman Topias Vilén join the team.
A lot of the noise around the team is who will take on the front office roles, but on the ice has been up and down much like the entire season. The Devils had a blowout win over the Capitals and split the home-and-home set with the Canadiens. However, they dropped the last two games and got outscored 10-3 in the process.
The comforting part is that the Devils have done a 180 degree turn during their five-on-five play, having a 52.24 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and sit 11th in expected goals for percentage since the Olympic break has ended. They’ve managed to play better in this stretch, but it’s been too little too late.
As for the Red Wings, they are doing it again. This is a team that was in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot and then the month of March happened. For the entirety of the month, the Red Wings won only five games, including a 3-0 victory over the Devils. They’ve gone 2-3 in their last five games and currently sit three points out of the final wild card spot. This is a massive two points for them on the line in this game and the Devils have the chance to play spoiler.
Projected Lineups
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Bratt-Hughes-Brown
Hameenaho-Glass-Bjugstad
Cotter-McLaughlin-Halonen
Defense
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Dillon-Nemec
Cholowski-Kovacevic
Goalies
Allen
Daws
Red Wings
Forwards
Finnie-Larkin-Raymond
DeBrincat-Copp-Kane
Mazur-Compher-Perron
Van Riemsdyk-Kasper-Shine
Defenseman
Edvinsson-Seider
Chiarot-Faulk
Johansson-Bernard Docker
Goalies
Gibson
Talbot
What to Watch For
The Jack Hughes Line
Jack Hughes has been one of the most productive players since returning from the break. Furthermore, the line of Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Connor Brown has been a lot of fun to watch, but has also been good as a trio since the break. Together, they’ve combined for 11 goals, scoring slightly above the expected rate (10.87 expected goals).
The on-ice impacts have been good as a whole. They have a 54.14 CF%, a 53.60 xGF%, and are outshooting opponents 108-88 when on the ice. Hughes and Bratt have always had dynamic chemistry, but Brown brings a different element to that line. Seeing them continue that chemistry and bring it against the Red Wings should be fun to see.
Jake Allen Will Give the Red Wings a Challenge
The sample size has been small for Allen since the break. But in that small sample he’s been good and will give the Red Wings a challenge. Overall, he has a .898 save percentage, which isn’t ideal. However, he does have a 3.07 goals saved above expected in this span.
One area of the ice he will need to continue to be good in is the high-danger parts of the ice. The Devils do give prime real estate offerings in that area of the ice, but Allen having an .871 high danger save percentage is huge, as Markström has struggled with a .796.
How to Watch
Puck drop for Saturday’s game is at 5:00 pm ET and can be found on MSG.