The New Jersey Devils (8-7-1) are back in action Wednesday night as they travel to Detroit to face off with the Red Wings. Detroit sits at 8-6-3 having not played since Friday during the NHL’s Global Series in Sweden, similarly, New Jersey has not played since Saturday’s 5-3 last-minute defeat against the New York Rangers.

Overview

The Devils come into Friday’s matchup still trying to find similar results they were getting when they began the season 7-3-1. Over their last five games, they only have one win and are allowing an average of 4.6 goals per contest. Two key factors over this 1-4-0 stretch is very poor goaltending (31st in save percentage) and some regression when it comes to finishing off chances (26th in shooting percentage).

Jack Hughes returned in the team’s last game which is great news. However, the team is still expected to be without Nico Hischier (who traveled with the team and returned to practice) as well as Timo Meier (did not travel with the team). It also appears if the team chooses to return to a conventional 12 forwards and six defenseman lineup, Brendan Smith would be the odd man out. However, goaltending and lineup decisions have yet to be made as the team only had an optional morning skate.

Similarly, after a strong 5-1-0 start, the Red Wings have also fallen on hard times. Detroit is 3-6-2 over their last 11 and have only two wins over their last seven. The Red Wings, on the season, grade out as a below average five-on-five team and average on special teams, as far as percentages go. They are led by forwards Dylan Larkin and Alex Debrincat who each have 17 points in 17 games. As far as injuries go, Detroit is pretty healthy, outside of goaltender, where Ville Husso remains out.

In goal, Detroit is expected to start Alex Lyon. Lyon is in line to make his second start of the season. In his first game, he stopped 26 of 29 shots in a losing effort against Toronto in NHL’s Global Series in Sweden. Last year, Lyon was terrific for Florida, as he stopped 11.02 goals above expected (17th-best of 102 in the league) in the regular season.

Projected Lineups

Devils –

Forwards:

Haula – Hughes – Lazar

Toffoli – Mercer – Bratt

Palat – McLeod – Holtz

Willman – (Hischier) – Bastian

Defensemen:

Siegenthaler – Hamilton

Bail – Marino

Hughes – Miller

Smith – (Tierney)

Goalies:

Vanecek / Schmid

Lines per Amanda Stein.

Red Wings –

Forwards:

Veleno – Larkin – Raymond

Debrincat – Compher – Rasmussen

Fabbri – Copp – Perron

Fischer – Sprong

Defensemen:

Walman – Seider

Chiarot – Holl

Maata – Gostisbehere

Petry

Goalies:

Lyon

Reimer

Game Notes

First Line Curtis Lazar?

If Tuesday’s practice is any indication, it appears that Curtis Lazar is set to once again get the nod alongside Jack Hughes on New Jersey’s “first line.” Interestingly enough, Curtis Lazar has been one of the most positively-impactful Devils skaters this season. Lazar checks in at fifth-highest on the team in terms of goals above replacement (GAR). Specifically, his defensive GAR rating is the highest on the team, by a good margin.

To add to this, the Lazar and Hughes duo, albeit in a very small sample size (16:43 of five-on-five ice time), has been electric. While on the ice together, the due has posted a 25 to 12 shot-attempt differential, 14-2 scoring-chance differential, and has own 79.69% of the expected goal ratio.

Is this sustainable? Probably not. Should a team with Stanley Cup aspirations be rolling Curtis Lazar on the team’s top line? No. However, for now, as the Devils try to get healthy, it appears to be working.

Devils Power Play

The Devils’ power play still ranks tops in the league by a very large margin. The unit is still clicking at a 39.0% rate, the next closest are the Rangers at 32.7%. On paper, the Red Wings have an average penalty kill; 16th at 78.8%. However, the underlying metrics paint a picture of a unit that allows a lot of quality and quantity to opposing power plays.

The Red Wings allow the seventh-most expected goals against per 60 minutes while on the kill. They have also spent the ninth-most amount of time on the kill in the league. New Jersey should be able to take advantage of any opportunities they get on the man advantage Wednesday night.

Where to Watch

Tonight’s game is slated for a 7:00 pm ET puck drop at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. It can be seen on MSG SportsNet 2 in-market and on ESPN+ out-of-market.

Statistics per NHL.com, Evolving Hockey, and Natural Stat Trick.