The New Jersey Devils (11-3-0) close out a three-game homestand Saturday night against the Arizona Coyotes (6-6-1). Earlier this week, the Devils defeated the Flames and Senators at the Prudential Center and are now riding an eight-game win streak. It is the longest win streak for New Jersey since 2011. This is the first meeting of the year between the Devils and Coyotes.
Match Overview
Devils
The current eight-game win streak has propelled the Devils to the top of the Metropolitan Division. New Jersey has also won 11 of 12 after a 0-2-0 start.
Given Vitek Vanecek left in the third period of Thursday’s win, Akira Schmid may get the start in net. Schmid was stellar in relief, earning his first NHL win. The 22-year-old netminder stopped all seven shots he saw, turning away 0.99 goals above expected.
The aforementioned Vanecek remains on the active roster. Per Amanda Stein, head coach Lindy Ruff is not concerned about the injury, but will reassess Vanecek before the game. Vanecek skated briefly at the tail-end of Friday’s practice, his status is still unclear.
Coyotes
As for the Coyotes, they have exceeded expectations so far with a .500 points percentage and are currently on a three-game win streak. Going into the year, many predicted Arizona would be in the thick of the Connor Bedard sweepstakes.
As a team, the Coyotes rank 30th in the league with a 41.59 CF% and are dead last in the NHL with a 37.78 xGF%. This is a woeful five-on-five team.
Personnel-wise, Clayton Keller leads Arizona with 15 points in 13 games. Karel Vejmelka should be in net for Arizona. The Czech goaltender has been between the pipes throughout Arizona’s current three-game win streak, including a 24-save shutout of the Islanders on Thursday. Vejmelka only allowed three goals in the two wins at Washington and Buffalo, also.
For the year, Vejmelka owns a .915 save percentage and has also saved 4.58 goals above expected. His backup, Connor Ingram, has struggled to the tune of a .874 save percentage and 3.99 goals saved below expected.
Injury-wise, forward Nick Schmaltz and defenseman Jakob Chychrun are on injured reserve for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, defenseman Connor Timmins and winger Zach Kassian are active, but are considered day-to-day. Neither played against the Islanders on Thursday.
Projected Lines
New Jersey Devils –
Forwards:
Tatar – Hischier – Zetterlund
Haula – Hughes – Bratt
Sharangovich – Mercer – Boqvist
Wood – McLeod – Bastian
Defensemen:
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Graves – Marino
Smith – Severson
Goaltenders:
Schmid
Vanecek
Arizona Coyotes –
Forwards:
Keller – Hayton – Guenther
Maccelli – Bjugstad – Crouse
Ritchie – McBain – Fischer
O’Brien – Boyd – Mayo
Defensemen:
Valimaki – Moser
Gostisbehere – Brown
Nemeth – Stetcher
Goaltenders:
Vejmelka
Ingram
What To Watch For
Special Teams Battle
While Arizona has struggled at five-on-five, they have been able to rack up points thanks to very strong special teams play. The Coyotes have the third-best power play in the NHL at 29.6% and the 10th-best penalty kill at 81.6%.
The Devils have been relatively solid on special teams as well. The New Jersey power play is converting 20.6% of opportunities, the 18th-best mark in the league, while the penalty kill ranks eighth at 82.6%. However, the Devils have allowed at least one power play goal in four of their last five games. Discipline will be key against a Coyotes team the Devils should dominate at even strength.
Brendan Smith and/or Kevin Bahl
One Devil who had a tough night on Thursday was Brendan Smith. Smith took two first period penalties against Ottawa, one leading to a Senators’ power play goal. The 33-year old has now racked up 21 penalty minutes in 14 games. He ranks 13th on the team in both CF% and xGF% at five-on-five.
Despite this, head coach Lindy Ruff anppears unlikely to change the lines, nor has he tinkered with them throughout the bulk of this winning streak.
Moreover, Smith’s possession-metrics are definitely passable. However, in a smaller, three-game sample size, Kevin Bahl ranks second on the team with a 65.22 CF% and leads the Devils with an astounding 87.02 xGF%.
It would certainly be intriguing to see Bahl draw back into the lineup against the team that drafted him in 2018 before trading him as part of the Taylor Hall deal. Even if Bahl doesn’t play tonight, and he likely won’t, expect to see him get another chance when the Devils start to hit a rough patch later at some point down the road.
Tomas Tatar
As mentioned heading into the Ottawa game, Tomas Tatar has been quietly having a tremendous start to his season. On the team, Tatar trails only Kevin Bahl in xGF% at 69.56 and is fourth with a 63.74 CF%. Meanwhile, the Slovakian winger scored his second goal of the year on Thursday, extending his point streak to six and tying a career-high.
Where To Watch
The Devils and Coyotes can be seen on MSG Sportsnet. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at the Prudential Center.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick.