Overview
This past Sunday saw the New Jersey Devils take on the Washington Capitals for the last time in this shortened season. It was also Easter, as well as the start of baseball season. That means I spent my Sunday flipping between watching the Devils and the New York Yankees (as well as the Brooklyn Nets) lose while stuffing myself chocolate rabbits and Italian food.
The page turns to tonight, where the Devils face off against the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres join the Devils at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, although there is a significant gap between eight and seventh place. Buffalo is also one of the few teams the Devils have been able to compete against this season, winning all but one game. The Boston Bruins are on that list as well.
Keys To Victory
Five-on-Five Play:
For how bad the Sabres have been this season, their special teams have been pretty good. Buffalo’s power play ranks 13th in the NHL, while their penalty kill is 16th. For comparison, the Devils are 28th and 30th in those same categories. The only place Buffalo has a real advantage is with their special teams, and we all know penalties on both teams are almost inevitable. Devils need to dominate the five-on-five play.
Momentum:
As odd as it sounds, the Sabres have more momentum entering this game then the Devils. Sure the Devils are working on a little bit of a point streak, but they have also lost three games in a row. The Sabres are coming off a shootout win over their same state rival the New York Rangers. Even if their record in their last ten is an unimpressive 2-6-2 they finally broke their almost NHL record losing streak.
Battle of The Thompsons:
Looks like New Jersey Devils prospect Tyce Thompson will be making his NHL debut tonight. That’s exciting, but even more interesting is that his brother Tage Thompson plays on the Buffalo Sabres. Making your NHL debut against your own brother is something I’m sure he never expected. Our Thompson looks like he’s playing fourth line right win tonight. His brother, also playing as a right wing, takes his place on Buffalo’s top line.
Players To watch:
Sam Reinhart:
At first, I was going to write about Taylor Hall. Then came the news he wouldn’t be participating in tonight’s game, for the same reason Kyle Palmieri is not. So, instead let’s look at Reinhart, whose Buffalo’s top scorer with 24 points. Reinhart has five points in the four games against the Devils. He’s one of the few things to go wrong right for Buffalo this season.
Ryan Murray:
He’s no Victor Hedman. Hey, he’s not even close to being a Damon Severson – we understand some of you aren’t very happy with him after Sunday. Still, the former second overall pick that the Devils bet low on had a great game in an otherwise bad New Jersey Devils’ loss on Sunday. Murray finished Sunday’s game with three assist to give him four points in his last two games. While all the trade attention is focused on Kyle Palmieri, Murray is a trade prospect as well.
Travis Zajac:
He’s the elder statesman of the Devil’s roster. He probably goes around telling all the younger players, “back in my days, Lou Lamoriello wouldn’t let us wear any number over 50!”. Just like Ryan Murray, he had a strong game Sunday with two goals. That’s the type of performance that will get people talking, even if they’re saying “I can’t believe Travis Zajac is still on the Devils!”. Also like Ryan Murray, he’s a possible trade chip. The keyword there is “possible,” because considering his longevity with the team and Zajac utilizing his no-trade clause in the past we don’t bet on Zajac going anywhere.
Projected Lineups:
Sabres’ Lines
Forwards
Victor Oloffson-Casey Mittelstadt-Tage Thompson
C.J. Smith-Sam Reinhardt- Anttu Ruostalainen
Jeff Skinner-Riley Sheahan-Rasmus Asplund
Tobias Reider-Cody Eakin-Steven Fogarty
Defense
Jacob Bryston-Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin-Henri Jokiharju
Colin Miller-Brandon Montour
Goalies
Linus Ullmark
Dustin Tokarski
Devils’ Lines
Projection
Winning is fun. Winning against your own brother is even more so. The Devils get the win in Tyce Thompson’s NHL debut against his brother Tage Thompson. Let’s say the final score is 4-2, New Jersey.