Overview
The New Jersey Devils (22-11-2) will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins (19-10-6) in a Metropolitan Division clash at PPG Arena tonight. They lost their last game to the Boston Bruins 3-1.
The Devils’ return from the holiday break didn’t exactly go to plan, falling to the Bruins for the second time in two games. They’ve posted an abysmal 2-7-1 record over their last ten games and their stranglehold on the division has disappeared. Now, New Jersey will need to regroup in a high-stakes contest against one of their strongest division rivals.
The Devils sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division, two points ahead of the fourth-place Penguins.
Lines and Pairings
Devils –
Forwards:
Tatar-Hischier-Zetterlund
Haula-Hughes-Bratt
Sharangovich-Boqvist-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Thompson
Defense:
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Bahl-Severson
Okhotyuk-Smith
Goalies:
Vanecek
Blackwood
Penguins –
Forwards:
Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
McGinn-Carter-Heinen
O’Connor-Blueger-Kapanen
Defense:
Petterson-Letang
Dumoulin-Rutta
Joseph-Friedman
Goalies:
DeSmith
Jarry
Keys to the Game
Which Team Will We See?
If there’s one emotion that every Devils’ fan is feeling right now, it’s confusion. That’s what happens when a team goes from a 13-game winning streak to a six-game losing streak within a month. What’s clear is that neither extreme is a true representation of New Jersey’s pedigree.
During the winning streak, the Devils were scoring goals at an unsustainable pace, capitalizing on almost every gritty chance and sporting an unusually high 11.81 shooting percentage (Sh%). They’ve done just the opposite recently, finishing very few of their chances and tallying an abnormally low 7.98 Sh%.
These conflicting numbers are a symptom of head coach Lindy Ruff’s aggressive offensive system that focuses on possession control and shot volume. Neither number accurately shows the strength of the Devils, which probably lies somewhere in the middle. The question is, will the Devils continue to be snake-bitten tonight or will they finally find some luck?
Nico Finding His Rhythm
One bright spot over the past two games has been Nico Hischier. Hischier, who had been on a five-game pointless streak, has three points in his last two games, including the lone goal on Wednesday. The captain has 14 goals and 32 points in 34 games so far this season. Look for Nico Hischier to drive the top six tonight.
Tonight’s game can be seen on MSGSN at 7:00 P.M. EST.