Rich Graessle/NHL via Getty Images
The New Jersey Devils (8-5) make their final stop on their three game road trip. To wrap things up they’ll head to the Sin City and take on the Vegas Golden Knights (9-4-1). The Devils are 1-1 on the trip so far.
Matchup Overview
The Connor Hellebuyck era is officially underway. After taking the last game off, he’s likely to make his second start for the team Friday.
The Devils road trip began in Dallas and the middle game was in Colorado. Hellebuyck didn’t have to stand on his head, as the team in front of him kept the Stars’ offense in check. He stopped 17 of 18 shots and saw the Devils dismantle the Stars at the other end of the ice. The Devils erupted for five goals and saw 12 different skaters secure a point in the stats sheet. It was yet another dominant showing.
The Devils struggled in the second of a back-to-back, getting punched in the mouth by the Colorado Avalanche. This is the second game since October 6 that the Devils finished with an expected goals for percentage (xGF%) below 50.00.
As for the Golden Knights, they are second in the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference. They’ve gone 3-4 over their last seven games, but one thing they’ve done exceptionally well is put the puck into the net. In the wins, they’ve scored four or more goals, but in the losses they’ve scored no more than three. The games they’ve lost they’ve scored no more than two in a game.
Mark Stone leads the team in goals (right) and Jack Eichel leads the team in points (20), which is tied for seventh in the entire league. The Golden Knights aren’t as tight defensively as the Stars are, so there is an opportunity for the taking against this team. They are a team that scores plenty of goals, as they rank fifth in the league in that regard.
Goaltender Carter Hart is day-to-day and the team does remain without winger Viktor Olofsson.
Projected Lineup
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Meier-Hischier-Evangelista
Gritsyuk-Hughes-Bratt
Mantha-Rodrigues-Boqvist
Lombardi-Glass-Brown
Defense
Hughes-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Dillon-Chisholm
Goalies
Hellebuyck
Allen
Vegas Golden Knights
Forwards
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Howden-Karlsson-Marner
Connelly-Hertl-Bowman
Lavoie-Dowd-Gatcomb
Defense
McNabb-Theodore
Lauzon-Hanifin
Heinola-Andersson
Goalies
Hill
Whitehead
What to Watch For
Shutting Down the Vegas Power Play
The Devils do not have the strongest penalty kill in the league. As it currently stands, the Devils penalty kill ranks 24th in the league with a success rate of 72.4%. When you dive into the power play that is the Golden Knights, they are converting.
Nico Hischier, Goal Scorer
Nico Hischier is coming into this game with four points over his last five games. Also, he is on a bit of a scoring streak, as he has three goals over these last five games and scored two big ones in the lopsided victory over the Stars.
The Devils’ captain has played 14 games against them. In those 14 games he has eight points and also six goals. Between all the special teams minutes he gets, along with his line being highly impactful, seeing him extend his point totals shouldn’t come as a surprise. Jesper Bratt also has eight points in 14 career games against Vegas.
How to Watch
Friday’s puck drop is at 6:00 pm ET and can be found on MSG and also NHLN.