The New Jersey Devils (40-15-5) continue their road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights (36-19-6) tonight. New Jersey has won three straight, including surviving a furious Colorado comeback effort to win 7-5 on Wednesday. Vegas is coming off a 3-2 win over Carolina on Wednesday.
This is the second meeting of the year between the Devils and Knights. The Devils picked up a 3-2 overtime win in Newark back in January. This is also the Devils’ last matchup against a Pacific Division opponent this season. New Jersey is 14-0-1 against the Pacific Division.
Match Overview
Timo Meier is the only skater on the New Jersey injury report with Devils fans eagerly awaiting his debut. There is still no clear timetable for Meier’s return to the ice, with the Swiss forward having last played on February 18. He has been listed as day-to-day and has been practicing in a non-contact jersey with New Jersey, so a return could come tonight. If not, expect Meier to debut in the near future. Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates before puck drop.
Meanwhile, Akira Schmid figures to be in net for New Jersey after playing the bulk of the third period in relief of Vitek Vanecek on Wednesday. The 22-year-old is also coming off a shutout against Philadelphia on Saturday in the Devils’ last game before this road trip. For the season, Schmid owns a .930 save percentage and a 6.58 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
For Vegas, Jack Eichel currently leads the team with 22 goals in 48 games. The former Sabre is coming off a two-goal night against Carolina. The other superstar in Vegas’ forward group, Mark Stone, remains on LTIR, but reinforcements have been added in the form of Ivan Barbashev and Teddy Blueger. Blueger was acquired on Wednesday and is expected to debut tonight, although it is unclear what linemates he will play alongside.
In net, Robin Lehner, Logan Thompson, and Laurent Brossoit are all on injured reserve or LTIR. As a result, Adin Hill has gotten the last two starts and is likely to play tonight. He owns a .911 save percentage and 0.36 GSAx for the season. However, the Golden Knights just acquired Jonathan Quick from Columbus on Thursday, one day after Los Angeles traded away their legendary goalie. Quick has struggled mightily this season to the tune of a .876 save percentage and a -22.25 GSAx.
Projected Lines
New Jersey Devils –
Forwards:
Tatar – Hischier – Mercer
Sharangovich – Hughes – Bratt
Palat – Haula – Boqvist
Wood – McLeod – Bastian
Defensemen:
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Graves – Marino
Bahl – Severson
Goaltenders:
Schmid
Vanecek
Vegas Golden Knights –
Forwards:
Barbashev – Eichel – Marchessault
Smith – Karlsson – Amadio
Carrier – Stephenson – Kessel
Cotter – Roy – Kolesar
Defensemen:
Martinez – Pietrangelo
McNabb – Theodore
Hague – Whitecloud
Goaltenders:
Hill
Quick
What To Watch For
“BMW Line” Returning to Early Season Form
Since the Devils cooled off in December after a red-hot start, depth scoring has been a concern for New Jersey. Those concerns were not eased with the reunion of the “BMW Line” after Nathan Bastian returned from injured reserve in January, leading to Bastian being scratched in recent games. However, since Fabian Zetterlund was scratched ahead of the Flyers game, the trio of Miles Wood, Michael McLeod, and Bastian have been thriving once again.
In the win over Colorado, the “BMW Line” was fantastic, posting a 90.54 expected goals-for (xGF%) at five-on-five as a trio. Against Philly, they registered a 71.91 xGF%. In a slightly larger sample size, the duo of Miles Wood and Michael McLeod saw an uptick in their play, even before Bastian returned to the lineup. In the three games before the “BMW Line” was reunited again, McLeod and Wood had an xGF% above 50.00 in each game playing with Jesper Boqvist and Fabian Zetterlund.
Going back to the Devils 13-game win streak when the “BMW Line” was lauded for providing solid depth to the NJ lineup, the trio had a 49.95 xGF%, significantly below their recent results. There will certainly be regression in those play-driving numbers at some point, but for now, the Devils have a fourth line that is rolling, and it makes them that much tougher to beat.
Bahl and Severson Pairing Thriving
Speaking of players in lesser roles playing great at the moment, the third pairing of Kevin Bahl and Damon Severson have also been playing fantastic as of late. Against Colorado, Severson led Devils’ defensemen with a 81.39 xGF% at five-on-five while Bahl posted a 75.73 xGF%.
There has been a fairly significant sample size for this good stretch as well. Since the All-Star Break, Bahl has a 66.89 xGF% at five-on-five in eight games while Severson has a 66.86 xGF% in ten games. High-danger chances also have swung heavily in the Devils’ favor with the pair on the ice. Both Bahl and Severson have a high-danger Corsi-for percentage (HDCF%) north of 73.00.
Hughes’ Line Struggling
While the Devils’ depth is shining bright, the trio of Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Yegor Sharangovich have underwhelmed since Hughes returned to the lineup six games ago. In those six games, the trio has posted just a 44.43 xGF% and a 51.41 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) at five-on-five. The Devils have just a 39.39 HDCF% with this line on the ice.
Those numbers aren’t awful, but they aren’t great, and Hughes and Bratt have been better than that throughout the season. For the year, Hughes and Bratt both have a CF% and xGF% above 57.00 at five-on-five while owning a HDCF% above 58.00.
Clearly the Sharangovich-Hughes-Bratt line has not fully clicked, and with Dawson Mercer looking like a superstar alongside Tomas Tatar and Nico Hischier, Bratt and Hughes seem like the perfect linemates for Timo Meier when he makes his Devils debut.
Where to Watch
MSGSN will have coverage of the Devils and Golden Knights. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick.