The New Jersey Devils (6-4) are enjoying some home cooking. They look to wrap up their homestand on a high note, as they welcome the Los Angeles Kings (2-4-2).
Matchup Overview
Fireworks were set off on Friday afternoon as the Devils acquired star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Read about the deal here.
As for the rest of the team, the Devils have been good enough thus far, but the main concern was in net. As a team, the Devils rank 24th in save percentage (.876) and are middle of the pack in goals allowed. Jake Allen is currently rocking a 3.15 goals against average (GAA) and a .883 save percentage. Nico Daws was not much better, but did strong along two good starts before the big splash move. Adding a player like Hellebuyck does move the needle a bit more. Good news is the Devils are also riding a mini-hot streak.
The Devils have enjoyed home cooking and have won their last two games on home ice. A narrow victory against the Colorado Avalanche (4-3), and a dominant 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. They have now won five of their last seven games.
This is the best the Devils have looked. As a team they are pushing the play forward, are creating offense at a high rate, playing with great pace, and are a swarm of bees in the offensive zone. Their hard work has been paying off in wins, but the Kings are also storming into Newark with a win streak of their own.
Both teams are coming into this game with matching win streaks. The Kings, who started the year winless (0-4-2), have managed to win two games in a row and got the money off of their backs. The Kings defeated the Washington Capitals (5-2) and thanks to the heroics of defenseman Brandt Clarke defeated the Islanders in overtime.
When you look at the wins, it’s been a matter of capitalizing on their chances. The Kings are not puck possession merchants, which bodes well in the Devils favor. Over their last two wins this week, they have a CF% of 42.35 and have generated 5.14 expected goals. As a team they’ve cashed in five of those at five-on-five play, scoring right at their expected rate. The Kings also have a 43.30 xGF% in this streak and, like the Ducks, do a poor job of limiting chances in the high danger areas of the ice.
While Los Angeles has gotten healthy bodies back with Mats Zuccarello, they are still without Kevin Fiala and also with one of their top offensive pieces in Quinton Byfield.
Projected Lineup
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Gritsyuk-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-Hischier-Evangelista
Mantha-Rodrigues-Brown
Boqvist-Glass-Noesen
Defense
Hughes-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Chisholm-Kovacevic
Goalies
Allen
Porier
Los Angeles Kings
Forwards
Panarin-Laferriere-Kempe
Lee-Haula-Zuccarello
Moore-Laughton-Armia
Wright-Helenius-Perry
Defense
Gustafsson-Clarke
Edmundson-Doughty
Anderson-Dumoulin
Goalies
Kuemper
Forsberg
What to Watch For
Top-Line Gritsyuk
There has been something that the Devils have been searching for for quite some time; find a winger that can stick alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. The Anthony Martha experiment lasted short. However, Gritsyuk has fit seamlessly
This trio has been among the best for the Devils in the first 10 games of the season. Together, they are tied for the most goals as a line combination with four, they have the highest CF% (63.6), and they have a 70.6 xGF%. No line has generated more expected goals (4.8), than this line and it helps with the impacts that Gristyuk brings to the fold.
Luke Evangelista Streaking
One player that has had an immediate impact on this roster is Luke Evangelista. He is pure speed and does a tremendous job of helping create on the rush. He’s been the perfect complementary piece to Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. Also, he has tremendous vision on the power play.
Evangelista missed two games due to an illness and ever since he has drawn back into the lineup, he has been stellar on this homestand. Seven different Devils skaters have goals and Evangelista has been able to pot one of them. Furthermore, 12 different skaters have points and Evangelista has three of them. Both of his assists are primary assists, showcasing that playmaking ability.
Over the homestand, Evangelista has been one of the teams’ best players. He is second in CF% (60.61), has the sixth-best xGF% (69.16), and is one of six different Devils skaters to have 10-plus high danger-shot attempts.
Evangelista has been a major bright spot and it’ll be fun to see if the point streak continues.
How to Watch
Saturday afternoon’s puck drop is at 3:30 pm ET and can be found on MSG.