The New Jersey Devils (39-29-7) return home to take on the Minnesota Wild (41-28-5) on Monday night. The two teams are wrapping up a home-and-home after the Devils defeated the Wild 5-2 on Saturday night. Thanks to those two points, New Jersey holds an eight-point lead over the chasing New York Rangers for the final automatic playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division with seven games to play.
Match Overview
There is no new injury news for either team since Saturday. Luke Hughes is dealing with a groin issue, per Amanda Stein, but with him playing on Saturday after being a late scratch for Friday’s game in Winnipeg, he should be good to go for Monday night.
With the playoffs approaching, Jacob Markstrom has reclaimed the starter’s net for New Jersey. The Swedish netminder has started three of the last four games, recording at least a point in all three. Markstrom stopped 22 of 24 Wild shots on Saturday in the win. For the season, he has posted a .900 save percentage and a 0.78 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
Meanwhile, Minnesota figures to turn back to Filip Gustavsson. Gustavsson owns a .916 save percentage and a 11.65 GSAx this season.
Marc-Andre Fleury has served as his backup this season. The 40-year-old has put up a .903 save percentage and a -6.65 GSAx, should Minnesota change up goaltenders to give New Jersey a different look.
Projected Lines
New Jersey
Forwards
Noesen – Hischier – Bratt
Haula – Mercer – Meier
Palat – Dowling – Tatar
Foote – Cotter – Sprong
Defensemen
Hughes – Pesce
Dumoulin – Kovacevic
Dillon – Nemec
Goaltenders
Markstrom
Allen
Minnesota Wild
Forwards
Boldy – Rossi – Hinostroza
Johansson – Gaudreau – Zuccarello
Foligno – Hartman – Nyquist
Trenin – Shore – Brazeau
Defensemen
Middleton – Faber
Brodin – Spurgeon
Merrill – Bogosian
Goaltenders
Gustavsson
Fleury
What to Watch For
New-Look Top Line Excels
After Friday’s defeat in Winnipeg, head coach Sheldon Keefe shuffled up his forward lines ahead of Saturday’s game in Minnesota. The new top line of Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Stefan Noesen wasted no time proving Keefe right, opening the scoring less than a minute in.
That line did not slow down all night, finishing with a 76.49 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) together at five-on-five. New Jersey also had a 7-4 edge in scoring chances and a 3-1 edge in high-danger chances with this trio on the ice.
Saturday was also a day of milestones for this group. Noesen’s assist on the opening goal gave him a new career-high with 38 points. Meanwhile, Hischier’s second hat trick of the season gave him a new career-high with 33 goals. Not to be outdone, Bratt is up to 86 points, having already established a new career-high in goals on Wednesday in Chicago.
Luke Hughes
Luke Hughes’ absence was felt by the Devils in the 4-0 loss at Winnipeg on Friday. However, Hughes was excellent in the two games he did play on the road trip. Against Chicago and Minnesota, Hughes posted a 61.67 xGF% in over 35 minutes of five-on-five ice time. He also picked up four assists in those two wins.
With Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler out for the season, Hughes needs to be New Jersey’s best defenseman, and he certainly was over the last road trip.
Dawson Mercer
Another Devil who had a strong road trip was Dawson Mercer. Mercer led all Devils’ skaters with a 70.05 xGF% and had a 16-12 edge in scoring chances and a 5-4 edge in high-danger chances.
New Jersey has needed more from some of its depth forwards since Jack Hughes went down, and Mercer is one of those doing just that.
Where to Watch
Puck drop between the Devils and Wild is set for 7:00 pm ET on MSG SportsNet.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick.