Match Overview

The Devils will be back on the ice in Carolina tonight, just less than 24 hours after suffering a 4-1 defeat in Tampa. New Jersey is still looking for their first road win in their sixth game away from the Prudential Center this season. In those road games, the Devils are averaging just 2.20 goals a game as opposed to 3 goals a game even at home. It’s a small sample size, but the Devils are struggling to find the back of the net on the road in the early part of the season.

The Devils might be in luck tonight. The Hurricanes have the third worst even-strength save percentage in the league at just 90.1% (via Corsica Hockey). Tonight will also mark the Devils first game against an opponent from within the Metropolitan Division. With both teams playing last night, neither team will hold morning skates, so any lineup changes won’t be announced until later in the afternoon.

Projected Lines

New Jersey

Hall//Zajac/Parenteau
Cammalleri/Henrique/Palmieri
Bennett/Zacha/Smith-Pelly
Kalinin/Fiddler/Lappin

Greene/Severson
Auvitu/Lovejoy
Moore/Quincey

Kinkaid

Carolina

Skinner/Rask/Stempniak
Nordstrom/Staal/Nestrasil
Aho/Lindholm/Teravainen
Stalberg/McClement/Di Giuseppe

Hainsey/Faulk
Slavin/Pesce
Hanifin/Murphy

Cam Ward

What to Watch

• The trio of Cammalleri/Henrique/Palmieri have struggled to find the back of the net to start the season. They have just 4 goals combined between the three of them. Cammalleri and Palmieri are both generating shots on goal. Eventually, luck will fall their way. Tonight may be an opportunity with Carolina’s goaltending struggles.

• The line of Hall/Zajac/Parenteau had a strong game last night. They had a 68.8% possession line and contributed to Damon Severson’s goal in the 1st period. With the aforementioned Henrique line struggling to score at the moment, the Devils will need the Zajac line to be on top of their game.

• Despite being in last place in the Metropolitan Division, the Hurricanes are the sixth best possession team in the league. They’ve largely been submarined by poor goaltending, which has been a problem for them the last couple of seasons. New Jersey will have to take advantage of their scoring chances and put Carolina on their heels early on.

Tonight’s game can be seen on MSG+ at 6 PM