The New Jersey Devils are back in action against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight on the road at 7:30 p.m. ET. This is the beginning of a three-game road trip for the black and red.
After a disappointing 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks in the Hughes bowl, the Devils need to turn things around and pick up an important two points. The Devils have lost four out of their last five and need to gain some ground in the playoff push. They currently sit seven points ahead of the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.
The Devils and Blackhawks met in the middle of December for their first game of the season. The Devils walked away with a 4-1 win over Chicago on home ice. Dawson Mercer, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier were the goalscorers while Jacob Markstrom sported a save percentage of .941%
Jesper Bratt and Meier have stepped up in the absence of superstar Hughes, who is out for the remainder of the season.
Bratt recently broke the franchise-record for number of assists in a single season and still has nine games left to set the new record. He currently has 62 assists and has 82 points on the season. He has 12 points in his last seven games and seems to be just heating up.
Meier has found his goal-scoring touch that was lacking, due to simply being unlucky, in the beginning of the season. Meier has four goals in his last five games, including two against Vancouver. With the lack of goal scoring production due to Hughes’ absence, now is the perfect time for Meier to begin finding the back of the net.
Markstrom has struggled to come back to his vezina-caliber style of play since returning from his MCL-sprain injury. Fortunately for the Devils and Markstrom, Jake Allen has comfortably found himself in the net more often than not. Allen has been remarkable for the Devils as Markstrom is not fully 100%.
Considering Markstrom is still recovering and should not be getting overplayed, one would assume Allen should be taking over the net tonight because Markstrom played on Monday night. Though, no starting goaltenders are confirmed.
Will the Devils be able to steal two points tonight in a much needed win? Find out tonight, puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. ET.
