The New Jersey Devils aim to rebound tonight as they face the Dallas Stars.
The Devils are 16-9-1 but enter tonight’s contest seeking to snap a two-game home losing streak. Losses to both the Philadelphia Flyers and the Columbus Blue Jackets have slowed their momentum.
Brenden Dillon reached a milestone with his 1,000th game on Monday, but the celebration was bittersweet as he left the game early. At today’s practice, head coach Sheldon Keefe brought good news—Dillon will be back in the lineup, he told the media and NJD.tv.
"He's in good spirits and feeling good," Keefe said.
There will be a pregame ceremony to honor the defenseman tonight.
Despite the recent losses, the team is still second in the Metropolitan Division.
The Stars have been red-hot, posting a 17-5-5 record and going 10-1-2 in their last 13 games.
Although they fell to the Rangers in overtime yesterday, they’re bringing momentum into tonight’s contest.
Injuries remain an issue for both teams. The Devils will play without six players, while five will be missing from the Stars’ lineup. See full lists below.
Devils:
J. Hughes (finger)
Pesce (upper-body)
Dadonov (unknown)
Kovacevic (knee)
McLaughlin (undisclosed)
MacEwen (upper body)
Stars:
Harley (lower body)
Bichsel (lower body)
Lundkvist (lower body)
McDonald (knee)
Erne (lower body)
Who to Watch
For the Devils, keep an eye on Simon Nemec, a standout on defense. He clocked over 30 minutes in Monday’s game and, with 14 points, is pacing for a career-best season.
For the Stars, Wyatt Johnston tallied a hat trick and an assist on November 30, notching a four-point night. Jason Robertson also continues to impress as the team’s goals and points leader.
The two teams are meeting for the first time this season. They will face each other once more on March 24.
The puck drops at 7 PM, and both teams are hungry for a much-needed win.
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