On Saturday night, the New Jersey Devils travel to Utah for the first time this season to play the Utah Hockey Club.
Coming into this game, the Devils are coming off a 5-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche, where Jack Hughes was the lone scorer for New Jersey. Grabbing a win in Utah could light the fire that the Devils need to get back into the win column and start stacking points up. Among the issues for Jersey recently has been their offense, especially the bottom six, as Curtis Lazar, Nathan Bastian, and Erik Haula have been pointless in their last five games.
On the other hand, Utah is coming off a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Utah has been playing well, as they are currently on a three-game win streak. The team should come out with high energy because extending their win streak could push them up in the Central Division, where they stand in fifth place.
The Devils and UHC have constantly displayed energetic and aggressive play, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see some fisticuffs and impressive play.
New Jersey will have to look out for some players who reside in Utah, including Clayton Keller, who had a five-point game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. The 26-year-old will most definitely pose a threat to the Devils. Nick Schmaltz is another player to watch as he’s been described as a “creative playmaker,” which makes him essential to his linemates. The forward has tallied six points in his last five games. Lastly, there is Logan Cooley, the third overall pick in 2022. Cooley has upheld a +1-2 stat in his last few games.
For New Jersey, some players who play lethally are Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Brett Pesce. Even with his lack of points, Pesce has impressed on the defensive end, which has helped the Devils. His young defensive partner, Luke Hughes, also adds to the team, and having him on the ice gives the Devils the confidence they need, as they know Pesce and Hughes are right behind them on the blue line.
On to Hughes, who has nine goals in his last 10 games. Seeing Hughes get on the board in this coming game is almost guaranteed. Bratt is another player to note. He’s been a great linemate to anyone he’s been paired with, making him a threat to Utah as he can work with anybody.
Both teams’ defensive lines play significant parts in their wins. For example, New Jersey’s Jonathon Kovacevic has made such an impact in his short time on the team, playing smart but aggressively when needed. On the other side of the ice, Utah’s own and former Devil John Marino is also a solid defenseman.
Both teams will vie for the win in this upcoming game, but the real question is, who will bring all the required parts to come out victorious? Tune in tomorrow at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN to find out.
