This Thursday, Jan. 9, the New Jersey Devils will play the New York Rangers for the third time this year. The game will be hosted at Madison Square Garden, and the puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET. The Devils currently remain second in the Metropolitan Division – securing only one win on their West Coast trip- they are looking to make a homecoming East Coast arrival and defeat the Rangers for the third time this season. The Rangers are seventh in the Metropolitan Division, right behind the Philadelphia Flyers by just one point.
The upcoming game promises to be intense, as always. Matt Rempe’s eight-game suspension has significantly impacted the Rangers, prompting a shift in team dynamics. Now, it looks like Rempe will play against New Jersey this Thursday as his suspension has concluded. New Jersey Devils’ forward Erika Haula has been out of the lineup for a few weeks due to an ankle injury. His return will depend on how fast he recovers and what is needed to help get him back out on the ice (he was going to be reevaluated once back in New Jersey). For now, Justin Dowling has been playing in Haula’s third-line center spot. These lines are subject to change per game and as time goes on.
Based on the last five games, players to watch for the New Jersey Devils include Paul Cotter and Dougie Hamilton. Cotter has obtained three goals in the last five, and Hamilton has had three assists. For the New York Rangers, the players to watch are Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Zibanejad has four points in the last five and Panarin has earned five assists. Rangers’ center, Filip Chytil had been red hot scoring four goals in the last five but will miss this game due to an upper-body injury.
Throughout the last 10 games played by the Devils, they obtained five wins and just five losses. The Rangers suffered seven losses, one being in overtime, and happened to only win three games. The New Jersey Devils lead the Hudson River Rivalry series 2-0 into the New Year.
The Devil’s power play is second-best in the league with a percentage of 28.9. The Rangers fall to 26th in the league with 17.8%. The Devils also have the sixth-best penalty kill in the league at 83.3%, the Rangers fall shortly behind them with the ninth best penalty kill in the league at 82.5%.
The New Jersey Devils are expected to start their leading goalie, Jacob Markstrom who has a .911 save percentage and has won 20 games with the team so far this season. The leading goalie for the Rangers will continue to be Igor Shesterkin who has won 11 games for the team and obtains a save percentage of .906 – right behind Markstrom. The Rangers’ second goalie Jonathan Quick may have the opportunity to make an appearance.
