Devils Set To Take On Panthers In First Of Back-To-Back Games

New Jersey Travels To Florida For Back To Back Games (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Overview

The gauntlet of a week continues for the New Jersey Devils (44-17-7). After a shutout victory against the Carolina Hurricanes, the team followed that up with two losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning. New Jersey enters the first of a back-to-back set as they take on the Florida Panthers (34-27-7). 

New Jersey is nipping at the heels of the Hurricanes for first place in the division. As it stands, they sit one point back, but Carolina has one game in hand. Florida is fighting for every two points.

They currently sit on the outside looking in, but have been playing better as of late. Florida has won four of its last five which includes a beat down to Montreal 9-5. This game should have a playoff type feel with two big points on the line. 

Projected Lineup

New Jersey Devils –

Forwards 

Tatar-Hischier-Mercer

Meier-Hughes-Boqvist

Palat-Haula-Bratt

Sharangovich-McLeod-Lazar

Defense

Siegenthaler-Hamilton

Graves-Marino

Bahl-Severson

Goalies

Schmid

Vanecek

Florida Panthers –

Forwards

Luostarinen-Barkov-Duclair

Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk

Lomberg-Lundell-Reinhart

Cousins-Staal-White

Defense

Forsling-Ekblad

Staal-Montour

Mahura-Gudas

Goalie

Bobrovsky

Guzda 

What To Watch For

Matthew Tkachuk

He may not win the Hart Trophy, but Matthew Tkachuk has been a force for the Panthers. He is on the verge of hitting the century point mark for the second season in a row.

Tkachuk is on a heater right now. He has three goals, nine assists, and 12 points in his last five games. His 91 points is 30-plus more than the next highest total on the Panthers. Tkachuk will be one player that the Devils will need to be aware of. 

Jesper Bratt

As of late, the depth scoring has been picking up the slack. The big guns could get going a bit more, one guy in particular is Jesper Bratt.

It has been a tough month production wise. Bratt has just two goals in his last five and three total in the month of March. With a gauntlet of a schedule the rest of the way, this is one guy the Devils need to get going. Thankfully, the Devils have depth, but the big guns getting going is a plus. 

How To Watch

Tonight’s puck drop is at 6:00 PM and will be on MSGN.

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.