After a nail-biting 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, the New Jersey Devils (18-9-2) will take on the Colorado Avalanche (14-13-0) tonight at the Prudential Center as they battle for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Overview
The Devils are riding high coming off two wins in a row against the floundering Rangers and streaking Kraken. New Jersey will get another struggling team in the Avs tonight, who are coming off a win against Detroit Saturday night.
Everything has gone right for New Jersey in this stretch. Not only have their stars come to play, but their depth has buoyed them to seven wins in their last ten games. Team chemistry has been a strength even with scattered injuries throughout the year. A consistently great powerplay also helps them, ranking first in the league with a 33.7% success rate.
The Avalanche, on the other hand, have hit hard times. The injury bug has bit them hard, with seven players out of action or on injured reserve. Colorado’s depth is under increasing pressure, and it’s all they can do to keep the Avs’ heads above the water at .500. They’re also in the midst of a long road stretch and the second leg of a back-to-back. Hopefully, New Jersey should catch a tired and depleted Avalanche squad tonight.
Lines and Pairings
Devils-
Forwards
Meier-Hischier-Noesen
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Tatar-Haula-Mercer
Cotter-Dowling-Legare
Defense
Dillion-Hamilton
Hughes-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Kovacevic
Goalies
Markstrom
Allen
Avalanche-
Forwards
Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittelstadt-Nichushkin
Kiviranta-Ivan-O’Connor
Kovalenko-Kelly-Wagner
Defense
Toews-Makar
Girard-Malinski
De Haan-Middleton
Goalies
Wedgewood
Georgiev
Keys to the Game
Wedgewood Again
There is no escaping Scott Wedgewood. The Devils will face off against their former backup tonight for the second time this season, this time with a different team. Wedgewood tended the twine against New Jersey on November 25 with the Nashville Predators. Nashville then traded Wedgewood to the Avalanche on November 30 for backup goalie Justus Annunen and a sixth-round draft pick.
He’s already got a couple of strong relief outings under his belt and made his first start against the Hurricanes. He allowed four goals in a losing effort. After a rough tenure in Nashville where he posted a .882 save percentage and -4.31 goals saved above expected (GSAx), Wedgewood has done well in Colorado.
Wedgewood is 3-0 with a .958 save percentage in his career against New Jersey. He has 114 saves across five games.
Devils Ready to Feast
The Devils’ power play has been their biggest strength this season. They cycle the puck well and generate high-quality chances consistently while placing effective screens in the offensive zone. The Devils will look to capitalize on that power play tonight against one of the weakest penalty-killing teams in the league.
The Avalanche boast a paltry 72.2% kill rate, just 28th in the league. Look for the Devils to draw as many offensive zone calls against the Avalanche as they can and get to the man advantage.
Where to Watch
Tonight’s game can be seen on MSG at 7:00 pm ET.