The New Jersey Devils (32-22-6) continue their road trip against the Utah Hockey Club (27-24-9) on Saturday night. This is New Jersey’s first visit to Salt Lake City after blanking Utah 3-0 at the Prudential Center back in October. That was Utah’s first ever loss after relocating from Arizona. The Devils have lost two of three since the returning from the 4 Nations Face-off break and sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind Carolina for second.
Match Overview
The New Jersey injury report is likely unchanged. Jonas remains out, but it appears Jacob Markstrom is extremely close. Markstrom was a participant in practice on Friday, per Sam Kasan.
There was no update on Jake Allen who left Wednesday’s game in the final minute due to cramping, so his status for the weekend back-to-back should be unaffected. Sheldon Keefe has not announced a starter just yet.
Meanwhile, Utah has won three straight with Karel Vejmelka in net for all three. Head coach Andre Tourigny has already announced Vejmelka will be back in net against the Devils. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a .910 save percentage and a 14.42 GSAx this season.
Utah is just two points out of the final playoff spot in the West. An exciting group of young forwards lead the way. 26-year-old Clayton Keller leads the team with 22 goals, 47 assists, and 69 points, but 20-year-old Logan Cooley and 21-year-old Dylan Guenther are second and fourth with 47 and 44 points, respectively. Guenther has been especially impressive, tallying 44 points in just 48 games. These three also lead the team in goals.
Defensively, Mikhail Sergachev leads the team with 38 points after being acquired from Tampa Bay last summer. Former Devil John Marino has been paired with him on the top pairing for most of the season.
Projected Lines
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Palat – Hughes – Bratt
Meier – Hischier – Mercer
Cotter – Haula – Noesen
Tatar – Lazar – Bastian
Defensemen
Hughes – Hamilton
Dillon – Nemec
Pesce – Kovacevic
Goaltenders
Daws
Allen
Utah Hockey Club
Forwards
Keller – Cooley – Schmaltz
Kerfoot – Hayton – Guenther
Crouse – McBain – Doan
O’Brien – Stenlund – Bjugstad
Defensemen
Sergachev – Marino
Maatta – Durzi
Cole – Kesselring
Goaltenders
Vejmelka
Ingram
Game Notes
Nico Hischier
The Devils are in desperate need of more depth scoring over as has been since in the past couple of months. In seven games in February, New Jersey scored just 13 goals at five-on-five, the ninth-fewest in the league. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt were on the ice for nine of those 13 goals.
One area where New Jersey needs more offensive output from is Nico Hischier’s line. Hischier was, of course, injured late in January and only returned last weekend after the 4 Nations Face-off break. In the three games since returning, he has been on the ice for three goals, all of which came in the win over Nashville with Hischier registering three assists.
However, in the two losses to Colorado and Dallas, Hischier was held off the board, and his line could not generate any goals either.
Since returning, the captain has put up a 47.75 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) at five-on-five while surrendering a 25-21 edge in scoring chances and a 7-4 edge in high-danger chances. Even if the goals don’t come, the Devils certainly need Hischier’s line to control play better and complement Jack Hughes’ line in the top six.
Erik Haula
Another factor that leaves the Devils needing more from Hischier on the second line is the disappointing play in the bottom six. Since returning to the lineup in early February, Erik Haula has played six games and has registered a 20.80 xGF%, the lowest among all Devils’ skaters, including part-time players like Kurtis MacDermid.
Of course, Haula was asked to fill in for Hischier for a handful of games, taking on much tougher matchups in the process, but has played bottom six minutes since Hischier’s return, and his numbers are still subpar. Opponents have a 44-16 edge in scoring chances and a 24-6 edge in high-danger chances with Haula on the ice at five-on-five.
As the trade deadline approaches on Friday, March 7, and New Jersey in desperate need of center help, an uptick from Haula would go a long way toward improving the overall forward depth.
Hughes, Hamilton Pairing
Head coach Sheldon Keefe shook up the defensive pairings at Friday’s practice and perhaps the most intriguing new pairing is Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes.
The two have played together in isolated moments this season, mostly with New Jersey chasing a late goal, but their underlying numbers are solid in a small sample size.
In just over 70 minutes of five-on-five ice time together, Hamilton and Hughes have registered a 57.86 xGF% and a 35-23 edge in scoring chances. The Devils have outscored their opponents 5-1 with this pairing on the ice.
Again, this is a very small sample size, but with the team in dire need of goals, putting together two high-end skilled defensemen could be the spark New Jersey needs.
Where to Watch
New Jersey at Utah is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET on MSGSN.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick