Devils Start Western Canadien Trip Against Canucks

(Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)

After a dominant 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, the New Jersey Devils (6-4-2) will head west to play the Vancouver Canucks (4-1-3) in the first of a three-game road trip. 

Overview

The Devils are coming off a big win at home against Anaheim. After a four-game skid, New Jersey took its frustrations out on the lowly Ducks. Stefan Noesen, Nico Hischier, and Jonas Siegenthaler all had big nights. Interestingly so, New Jersey has had excellent special teams but not exactly stellar five-on-five play thus far this year, which is the opposite of what usually happens. The Devils hope to flip the script with this momentum and get back to stellar five-on-five play.

The Canucks are coming off an overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, their first loss in five games. It’s been a mixed bag for the Canucks this season, but they’ve found a recent run of form under goaltender Kevin Lankinen. Tensions are running high in Vancouver after some tough losses early in the season, but they’ll be ready to play tonight.

The Devils are in first place in the Metropolitan Division with 14 points while the Canucks are third in the Pacific with 11 points.

Lines and Pairings

Devils-

Forwards

Meier-Hischier-Mercer

Palat-Hughes-Bratt

Cotter-Haula-Noesen

Tatar-Dowling-Bastian

Defense

Dillion-Hamilton

Siegenthaler-Kovacevic

Hughes-Pesce

Goalies

Markstrom

Allen

Canucks-

Forwards

Debrusk-Miller-Boeser

Bains-Petterson-Garland

Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood

Hoglander-Suter-Sprong

Defense

Hughes-Hronek

Soucy-Myers

Brannstrom-Juulson

Goalies

Lankinen

Slovis

Keys to the Game

The Goalies

It’s been two very different stories for tonight’s goalies this season. Jacob Markstrom, fresh off a trade from Calgary this offseason, has struggled thus far. He’s been able to make some stellar saves but has overall not been great. He’s posted a -3.97 goals saved above expected (GSAx) and played to a .893 save percentage (SV%). Even in the Devils’ big win over Anaheim, Markstrom was uneven. He posted a -0.22 GSAx. Look for Markstrom to turn his season around against an old divisional foe from his Calgary days.

Kevin Lankinen, on the other hand, has stepped up when the Canucks needed him to. Star goalie Thatcher Demko has been hurt all season, and Lankinen has emerged from a duo including Aturs Silvos to become the number one guy. He’s played to a .919 SV% and 3.13 GSAx in six games.

Curtis Lazar (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Depth Takes a Hit

One pleasant surprise this season has been the Devils’ depth scoring. Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen are feasting and the bottom six consistently puts in hard-playing shifts. While he hasn’t joined in on the offensive fun, fourth-line center Curtis Lazar’s recent injury will change the dynamics of the Devils’ depth forwards.

New Jersey recalled Justin Dowling to fill in for Lazar on that line, but it remains to be seen how the dynamic will change. Much of the depth scoring has gone to the third line, which includes Cotter and Noesen, but a different center could propel linemates Tomas Tatar and Nathan Bastian to some much-needed offensive production.

Where to Watch

Tonight’s game can be seen at 10:30 pm ET on MSGSN.

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