Preview: New Jersey Devils Look to Build Off Win Against Buffalo Sabres

The New Jersey Devils face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time this season. (photo via. Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Match Overview

Tonight the New Jersey Devils face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time this season. This is also the first of three games in a row against their long-time rivals from steel city. These two teams were scheduled to meet a few times earlier in the season. However, the games were postponed due to the Devils’ COVID-19 outbreak.

The Penguins have been on fire lately, having won six games in a row before losing 2-1 to the Bruins on Tuesday night. The Devils have been the opposite, losing four in a row and nine of their last ten before a win against the Sabres on Tuesday night. The win was their first at home since January 24th.

Projected Devils’ Lines

Check back to our social media pages closer to game time for full lineups.

Projected Penguins’ Lines

Forwards:

Guentzel – Crosby – Rust

Rodrigues – Malkin – Kapanen

Aston-Reese – Blueger – Tanev

Sceviour – Jankowski – Angello

Defense:

Dumoulin – Letang

Matheson – Ceci

Pettersson – Ruhwedel

Goalies:

Jarry

DeSmith

What/Who to Watch

  • Penguins star and long time captain Sidney Crosby is having a great season with 11 goals and 29 total points in 28 games. He has also been driving play better than he was last season, with a 53.17% five-on-five corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 54.51% expected goals percentage (xG%). Crosby’s high danger Corsi for percentage (HDCF%) is also up this season by over 5%, as he has 89 total through just 28 games.

  • Mackenzie Blackwood is obviously the Devils goalie of the future and should start tonight for the second game in a row. However, Scott Wedgewood technically has the better numbers. The 28 year old netminder currently owns a 2-3-3 record with a .914 save percentage. If Wedgewood keeps it up he could become a decent option for any team looking for a cheap backup at the trade deadline.
  • Devils’ forward Nico Hischier is finally returning in approximately three weeks. He was injured after being struck in the face with a puck during a game on February 27th. The newly named Devils’ captain has already missed significant time this season with a lower body injury and after contracting coronavirus. He has only played five games this season, scoring two goals and three total points in that time.

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