Gameday Preview: Devils @ Canadiens
The Devils will face the Canadiens for the first time this season in Montreal.
Sep 25, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; The New Jersey Devils celebrate their win against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports - Gameday Preview: Devils @ CanadiensThe New Jersey Devils will play their second road game of the 2023-24 campaign when they face the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 P.M. due to the NHL's Frozen Frenzy.
The Devils earned a 2-1-0 record versus the Canadiens last season. Versatile forward Dawson Mercer enters tonight's contest with at least a point in his previous four games versus Montreal. At the same time, Jack Hughes has earned nine points (four goals, five assists) in seven career games versus tonight's opponent.
Devils @ Canadiens- Bell Centre
The Devils are back in action and will look to improve upon their 2-1-1 record. While New Jersey is playing their first game of their back-to-back, Montreal will play the second of their own after earning a 3-1 victory in Buffalo on Monday night.
Head coach Lindy Ruff spoke with the media after the team's optional morning skate and stated that Erik Haula and Nico Hischier "should be able to play" versus Montreal.
Tonight will mark Tyler Toffoli's return to Montreal. The 31-year-old played 89 games with the Canadiens between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. During his tenure in Montreal, he collected 70 points (37 goals, 33 assists).
- The Devils injury report includes Tomas Nosek (lower-body, IR) and Colin Miller (lower-body).
- The Canadiens injury report includes Kaiden Guhle (upper-body), Christian Dvorak (knee, IR), Chris Wideman (back, IR), and David Savard (upper-body).
- New Jersey enters tonight's game with the top power play in the league, scoring nine goals on 21 opportunities (42.9 percent). Dougie Hamilton, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Hughes have each scored two goals on the man advantage. The Devils scored four power-play goals in their last game versus the New York Islanders.
- Alex Newhook has three goals in five games and four points to start the season. In his last game versus New Jersey, he collected an assist.
Projected Lineup
New Jersey:
Ondrej Palat - Nico Hischier - Jesper Bratt
Tyler Toffoli - Jack Hughes - Timo Meier
Dawson Mercer - Erik Haula -Alexander Holtz
Curtis Lazar - Michael McLeod - Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler - Dougie Hamilton
Kevin Bahl - John Marino
Luke Hughes - Brendan Smith
Vitek Vanecek/Akira Schmid
Montreal:
Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Rafael Harvey-Pinard
Josh Anderson - Alex Newhook - Juraj Slafkovsky
Tanner Pearson - Sean Monahan - Brendan Gallagher
Michael Pezzetta -Jake Evans - Jesse Ylonen
Michael Matheson - Justin Barron
Jordan Harris - Johnathan Kovacevic
Arber Xhekaj - Gustav Lindstrom
Cayden Primeau/Sam Montembeault
Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be broadcast on MSGSN. Bill Spaulding will handle play-by-play alongside analyst Ken Daneyko and host Erika Wachter. Fans can also listen on the Devils Hockey Network with Matt Loughlin on play-by-play.
Player to Watch: Dawson Mercer
Mercer has had opportunities through the team's first four games but has been unable to convert. After the team's Oct. 23 practice, Ruff was asked if he needed to see more from the young forward.
"If you go back to the first game, a couple of breakaways that he didn't take advantage of, I think if those would have went in, we would probably be in a little different place," he said. "Last couple of games, the opportunities have gone down. I think the lineup we've put together for power plays has taken a little bit of his ice time. I think the opportunity is a little bit different for him right now. I think we need to see a little bit more. I think he's trying. I thought the last game a lot of effort went into it. There wasn't much for opportunities, but I like the way he played."
Mercer has played six career games versus Montreal and has earned a point in every outing except for one (3/27/2022). Against the Canadiens, he has seven points in six games. Tonight is the perfect opportunity for him to find his name on the scoresheet.