The Devils host the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time this season, after hosting Chicago in last year’s home opener.
You can watch the game on MSG or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Read the game preview below and check back following morning skate for our Pre-Game Story, videos, lineup updates and more!
Stay tuned until after the Devils morning skate on Tuesday for the latest….
–Sam Kasan, Head Writer, NewJerseyDevils.com
DEVILS (20-4-1) vs BLACKHAWKS (7-13-4)
TV: 7:00 p.m. ET; Televised on MSG
Head-to-Head
Two teams headed in opposite directions this season meet as the Blackhawks and Devils go head-to-head for the first of two meetings this season. Chicago is 1-8-1 in its last 10 games, while the Devils are 8-1-1. The Devils currently have three players, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischierand Jesper Bratt In the league’s 50 top point-getters, all three players with at least six more points than Chicago’s leading scorer (Patrick Kane, 20 pts).
Devils team scope:
The win in Philadelphia “wasn’t one we earned”, said Nico Hischier on Monday afternoon. Despite their play, the Devils picked up two points over the weekend and their 20th win of the season. Against Chicago the hope is for a better all-around performance after the way they played against the Flyers.
Jack Hughes is riding a five-game point streak with six goals and two assists, and eight goals and six assists in his last 10. Captain Nico Hischier has nine points in his last 10 games. Hughes and Hischier are one and two in points for New Jersey so far this season.
The last home game for New Jersey was Thursday night against the Nashville Predators, which was the first loss in overtime this season for the Devils.
Blackhawks team scope:
The Blackhawks will be coming off their loss against the Islanders on Sunday, shutout for the fourth time this season. Patrick Kane is Chicago’s leading scorer with 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists), and Max Domi leads the team in goals with nine.
Chicago will close out a three-game road trip against Tri-State area teams. They are currently 1-1 in the games with a win against the Rangers on Saturday and a loss to the Islanders on Sunday.
By the numbers:
Between Vitek Vanecek, Mackenzie Blackwood and Akira Schmidt this season, the Devils have conceded 57 goals while scoring 93 of their own. The +36 goal differential is the second-best in the league, behind Boston’s +44.
Over the weekend Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists against the Rangers, to give him 1,200 NHL points. Only two current NHL players have more NHL points than Kane: Sidney Crosby (1,442) and Alex Ovechkin (1,435).
Injury Updates:
Devils
Jonathan Bernier (Hip – LTIR)
Ondrej Palat (Groin – IR)
Mackenzie Blackwood (Sprained MCL – 3 to 6 Weeks)
Nathan Bastian (Upper Body – Indefinite)
Blackhawks
Petr Mrazek (undisclosed – day-to-day)
Jarred Tinordi (hip)
Alex Stalock (concussion)
Tyler Johnson (ankle)
–Amanda Stein, Lead Reporter, NJD.TV
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