Introduction

After a strong 4-2 win in Pittsburgh last night, the New Jersey Devils will look to keep their legs going against the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening. The Devils now hold a record of four wins and two losses (4-2-0). The Jackets hold a record of four wins and three losses (4-3-0).

Projected Lines

Devils’

Forwards

Zacha – Hischier – Tatar

Johnsson – Mercer – Bratt

Sharangovich – McLeod – Vesey

Kuokkanen – Gauthier – Studenic

Defensemen

Graves – Hamilton

Siegenthaler – Subban

Smith – Severson

Goalies

Wedgewood

Bernier

Blue Jackets’

Forwards

Laine – Jenner – Voracek

Domi – Roslovic – Bjorkstrand

Nyquist – Sillinger – Hofmann

Robinson – Kuraly – Texier

Defensemen

Werenski – Bean

Gavrikov – Peeke

Carlsson – Harrington

Goalies

Merzlikins

Korpisalo

What to Watch for… 

• Tomas Tatar has had a relatively slow start to the season, collecting three assists in six games along with a 52.76 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 49.13 expected goals percentage (xG%) at five-on-five. That five on five xG% ranks 20th on the team according to naturalstattrick. With him being on a new line with Nico Hischier and Pavel Zacha, it would be safe to assume that he’s bound to have a big game sometime in the near future.

• In a recent article, we discussed Devils’ players who have started the year off on a high note. Dougie Hamilton was one of the players on that list and the one game that has been played since that article was possibly his best as a Devil. Ryan Graves and he having a short break seems to have rejuvenated the success they had for the first few games of the season. Let’s hope that the two keep it up as thus far this season the duo have the third highest CF% in the NHL among defensive pairings that have played least 70 minutes of time on ice.