The New Jersey Devils will look to put an end to their four-game losing streak against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm ET at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Match Overview
The Devils haven’t been the same team since the end of 2024. New Jersey has lost nine of its past 11 games. If we’re going to look on the bright side, the Devils have lost four games in overtime or the shootout, plus three other losses during this stretch were by just one goal. New Jersey ranks 31st in the NHL in points with a grand total of seven since December 28.
The biggest issue for the Devils right now is five-on-five play. Before this stretch, the Devils were being carried by special teams, as well as Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. New Jersey’s penalty kill is still respectable but it’s regressed a bit.
The power play remains a concern. The Devils’ once mighty man-advantage has been hitting at a 15.4 percent clip over the past 11 games. That ranks 27th in the NHL. New Jersey was boasting a top-three unit all season. When the five-on-five play hasn’t been up to par, and the power play starts to struggle, where’s the offense come from?
Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins have won three of the past four games following a six-game losing streak. Boston has been an enigma most of the season. Head coach Jim Montgomery was let go and replaced by Joe Sacco back in November. The team has made some strides but isn’t anything close to the group that finished with 109 points last season.
Projected Lineup
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Palat – Hughes – Bastian
Noesen – Hischier – Bratt
Meier – Cotter – Mercer
Macdermid – Lazar – Tatar
Defense
Dillon – Hamilton
Siegenthaler – Kovacevic
Hughes – Pesce
Goalies
Markstrom
Allen
Boston Bruins
Forwards
Geekie – Zacha – Pastrnak
Marchand – Poitras – Coyle
Wahlstrom – Lindholm – Lettieri
Brazeau – Beecher – Kastelic
Defense
Zadorov – Peeke
Wotherspoon – Carlo
Lohrei – Oesterle
Goalies
Swayman
Korpisalo
What to Watch For?
Line Shakeup
Head coach Sheldon Keefe has decided to shake up the lines to try and get the team going at five-on-five, which has been a major issue. So, if practice on Tuesday was any indication, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt have been split up. Hughes projects to be centering Ondrej Palat and Nathan Bastian, who is up from the bottom-six. Bratt projects to be down with Nico Hischier and Stefan Noesen on the second line.
Chances are Bastian will be out on the ice only in certain situations. Expect a lot of double shifting for Hughes and Bratt. Don’t be surprised if they’re out there together at some point at even-strength. Keep an eye on the lines in the first period depending on how the game goes.
Score Some Goals Already!
This is a very winnable matchup for the Devils. The Bruins are super middle-of-the-pack in most advanced categories, including expected goals against and Corsi-for percentage. Boston isn’t a good possession team and isn’t very good on special teams. If the Devils can be physical early in the game and get on top in the first period, perhaps the flood gates will open for a change. The Devils desperately need a game in which they coast to a win. How about make it at home to end a bad losing streak?
The last time the Devils scored five-plus goals was before Christmas in that incredible win against the New York Rangers. That game feels like it happened years ago. Over the past 11 games, the stretch the Devils have struggled in, the Bruins rank 29th in the NHL in goals allowed (3.36).
Where to Watch
The Devils vs. Bruins game will start at 7:00 pm ET on MSG locally and also on NHL Network.