Matchup Preview:
For the first time in over a week the New Jersey Devils will take the ice. This against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thursday’s game will be the front end of a back-to-back as the final push of the season begins. The return of Dougie Hamilton will certainly help boost the blueline and the morale of both his fans and the teammates. The Penguins come into this game looking to close the gap for first with the Carolina Hurricanes while fending off the New York Rangers who are right on their heels.
Projected Lines:
Devils’
Forwards:
Sharangovich – Hughes – Mercer
Zacha – Hischier – Bratt
Johnsson – Boqvist – Tatar
Vesey – McLeod – Bastian
Defensemen:
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Graves – Severson
Smith – Subban
Goalies
Gillies
Daws
Penguins’
Forwards:
Guentzel – Crosby – Rust
Heinen – Malkin – Carter
Mcginn – Rodrigues – Kapanen
Aston-Reece – Boyle – Simon
Defensemen:
Dumoulin – Letang
Petterson – Marino
Matheson – Ruhwedel
Goalies
Jarry
DeSmith
What to Watch
Dougie Hamilton:
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Devils will have their top free agency signing back in the lineup. The long layoff could certainly bring with it some expected rust to Hamiltons’ game, but his presence on the blue-line is certainly a welcome sight. Although the season may already have become a lost-cause, getting Hamilton back for the final stretch will help give a more accurate judgement to the back end and the team’s needs moving into next season.
Pavel Zacha:
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, the rumor mill has been loaded per usual. One popular name getting thrown around is Pavel Zacha. While Zacha has had his ups and downs at times, he still is a player who teams can view as a valuable piece in part of a larger overall trade. Even at a young age, Zacha has tons of NHL experience and can be a nice depth addition. It’ll be interesting to see if all the rumors affect his play on the ice at all.
Where to Watch
You can catch all the action starting at 7:00 PM ET on MSG+.