New Jersey has an all-time record of 20-23-1-5 versus Columbus.
The New Jersey Devils will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night at Prudential Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. It concludes the team's five-game homestand.
New Jersey held a 10:30 A.M. morning skate at Prudential Center. At 9:45 A.M., the organization announced that goaltender Nico Daws was recalled from the Utica Comets (American Hockey League). He joined Akira Schmid and Vitek Vanecek on the ice. Vanecek was in the starters' net.
Curtis Lazar was the lone player missing. The team announced that the 28-year-old was working out off the ice at Prudential Center. With his absence, the lines were shuffled, and Brendan Smith will return to the forward position versus the Blue Jackets. Head coach Lindy Ruff said Lazar is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Devils vs. Blue Jackets - Prudential Center
The Devils have a 1-1-0 record versus the Blue Jackets this season. In their last meeting, New Jersey earned a 6-3 victory, with Jack Hughes earning his second career hat trick. Jesper Bratt collected three assists and has 13 points in 19 games versus Columbus.
Tonight's opponent is eighth in the Metropolitan Division (11-18-6). They are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Former Devils' defenseman Damon Severson returned to action after missing 15 games with an oblique injury. He was credited with one shot and one blocked shot in over 19 minutes of ice time. The Blue Jackets are 3-5-2 in their last ten games.
- New Jersey's injury list includes Dougie Hamilton (out indefinitely) and Tomas Nosek (out indefinitely).
- Columbus' injury list includes Nick Blankenburg (upper body), Patrik Laine (fractured clavicle), Boone Jenner (fractured jaw), Adam Boqvist (shoulder strain), Jack Roslovic (fractured ankle), and Sean Kuraly (abdominal injury).
- Severson appeared in 647 career regular-season games with New Jersey, which ranks seventh all-time for defensemen in franchise history. Severson's 263 career points also rank fifth all-time in franchise history for defensemen.
- Per the media notes, entering Wednesday's game, the Devils rank first in the NHL for defensive-zone face-offs at 59.0 percent. Michael McLeod ranks first in the NHL for overall face-off win percentage (65.6. percent).
- Johnny Gaudreau is riding a five-game point streak (two goals, five assists). He has earned at least a point in his last six meetings versus New Jersey dating back to Dec. 4, 2018.
- Per the Blue Jackets' website, "With five goals and five assists in the last 11 games, Adam Fantilli is third among NHL rookies in goals (nine) and points (20)."
Projected Lineup
New Jersey:
Tyler Toffoli - Jack Hughes - Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat - Nico Hischier - Alexander Holtz
Timo Meier - Michael McLeod - Dawson Mercer
Brendan Smith - Erik Haula - Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler - Simon Nemec
Luke Hughes - John Marino
Kevin Bahl - Colin Miller
Vitek Vanecek/Akira Schmid/Nico Daws
Columbus:
Johnny Gaudreau – Adam Fantilli – Justin Danforth
Yegor Chinakhov – Dmitri Voronkov – Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson – Cole Sillinger – Emil Bemstrom
Alexandre Texier – Brendan Gaunce – Mathieu Olivier
Zach Werenski – David Jiricek
Ivan Provorov – Damon Severson
Jake Bean – Erik Gudbranson
Elvis Merzlikins
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.