The Devils travel to Bern, Switzerland for their last preseason game. –Getty Images
Match Overview
The New Jersey Devils travel to Switzerland to face SC Bern in their final preseason game. The game will take place in Bern, Switzerland at 1:30 PM. The Devils are going to close with the lineup I would expect to see on opening day. The projected healthy scratches will consist of Drew Stafford, Eric Gryba, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. Keith Kinkaid will get the start, with Eddie Lack backing him up.
SC Bern plays in the National League, which is the top tier league in the Swiss hockey system. They play at PostFinance Arena, which is one of the largest stadiums in all of Europe so expect an electric environment. Some names to look at on Bern are Mark Arcobello (ex-Oilers forward) and defenseman Ramón Untersander. They are led by head coach Kari Jalonen.
Projected Devils Lines
Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Johansson-Zacha-Bratt
Wood-Zajac-Dea
Coleman-Boyle-Noesen
Quenneville
Muller-Vatanen
Greene-Severson
Butcher-Lovejoy
Santini
Kinkaid
What/Who to Watch
- In Europe, the rinks are larger than the ones in America. PostFinance Arena is 100 feet wide compared to NHL rinks, which are 85 feet wide. It’ll be interesting to see which Devils take advantage of this size difference and also the impact it has on the Devils stamina.
- The last time SC Bern played an NHL team, it was the New York Rangers in 2008. The game also took place in Switzerland and the Rangers defeat Bern 8-1.
- Forward Nico Hischier is the first Swiss-born player to ever be drafted 1st overall in the NHL Entry Draft. His return home means a lot to him and it would be fantastic to see him on the scoreboard. Interestingly enough, Hischier played 15 career games with SC Bern during the 2015-16 season.
Tonight’s game can be seen on NHL Network or MSG+ at 1:30 PM.