Gameday Preview: Devils vs. Canucks

New Jersey has an all-time record of 46-54-17-4 versus Vancouver.

Feb 6, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Dakota Joshua (81) faces off against Vancouver Canucks center Curtis Lazar (20) during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports - Gameday Preview: Devils vs. Canucks

The New Jersey Devils will wrap up their ninth back-to-back set when they host the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. After playing last night, the club did not hold a morning skate, and head coach Lindy Ruff will meet with the media at 5:00 P.M.

One question mark entering Saturday night is the status of 22-year-old Jack Hughes, who was just named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto. He could not finish Friday night's game because of an undisclosed injury. Ruff did not have an update after the team's 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Devils vs. Canucks - Prudential Center

The Devils earned a 1-0-0 record versus the Canucks this season after defeating them by a score of 6-5 in Vancouver on Dec. 5, 2023. Per the media notes, New Jersey is 15-2-2 against the Cancuks since the 2013-14 season. The Devils are 6-1-0 against Quinn Hughes' team since Jack Hughes' NHL debut in the 2019-20 campaign.

Vancouver is first in the Pacific Division (24-11-3). They are coming off a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Connor Garland scored the Canucks lone goal while goaltender Thatcher Demko made 30 saves. The club is 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.

New Jersey's injury list includes Dougie Hamilton (out indefinitely), Tomas Nosek (out indefinitely), Timo Meier (mid-body), and Ondrej Palat (lower body).

Vancouver's injury list includes Phillip Di Giuseppe (lower body), Carson Soucy (foot), and Guillaume Brisebois (concussion).

Three of New Jersey's skaters enter tonight's game on respective point streaks: Alexander Holtz (two games), Michael McLeod (two games), and Curtis Lazar (two games).

The Devils record when outshooting an opponent in a game this season is 16-6-1.

Vancouver is 1-7-2 in their last 10 games against the Devils (1-3-1 in their previous five).

Quinn Hughes has registered 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in his last 15 games, totaling 46 points overall (10 goals, 36 assists). He ranks first in the league for points amongst defensemen and ranks fifth in the league for assists amongst all skaters.

Projected Lineup

New Jersey:

Friday night's lineup:

Erik Haula - Nico Hischier - Dawson Mercer

Tyler Toffoli - Jack Hughes - Jesper Bratt

Curtis Lazar - Michael McLeod - Alexander Holtz

Brendan Smith - Chris Tierney - Nathan Bastian

Jonas Siegenthaler - Simon Nemec

Luke Hughes - John Marino

Colin Miller - Kevin Bahl

Vitek Vanecek/Nico Daws

Vancouver:

Ilya Mikheyev - Elias Pettersson - Sam Lafferty

Pius Suter - J.T. Miller - Brock Boeser

Dakota Joshua - Teddy Blueger - Conor Garland

Nils Hoglander - Nils Aman - Linus Karlsson

Quinn Hughes - Filip Hronek

Nikita Zadorov - Tyler Myers

Ian Cole - Noah Juulsen

Thatcher Demko/Casey DeSmith

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.