The Devils open the 2022 Prospects Challenge tournament in Buffalo against the Montreal Canadiens.
You can watch the game streamed live right here on the Devils website with Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch on the call starting at 6:45 PM ET.
Read the game preview below and check back following the morning skate for our pre-game story, interviews, lineup updates and more.
Catherine Bogart gets you set for tonight’s game with Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch on the call. Stay tuned after the game for our Live Post-Game Show with Catherine and post-game reaction
Devils Prospects practice in Buffalo on Saturday.
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BUFFALO — Check back following morning skate, around 1:00 PM ET for a full report, including lineup updates.
DEVILS vs. CANADIENS
TV: 7:00 PM ET; Streamed here on NJD.TV
Head-to-Head:
The annual Buffalo Sabers Prospects Challenge makes its return with some new opponents and an expanded format. Last season, there were three teams: New Jersey, Buffalo and Boston. This year, the slate has expanded to six with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators joining the others here in Buffalo.
Tonight, the Devils play the Canadiens. These two teams have never met in this tournament.
Devils team scope:
The Devils will be playing their first game of the tournament. Some of the players to keep an eye on include Alex Holtz, who had 26 goals and 51 points in 52 games last season with Utica of the AHL.
Second-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Simon Nemec, will also be a player to keep an eye on as he nears his professional debut. The blueliner was drafted second overall but was the second player from his native Slovakia taken in that draft as Montreal chose Juraj Slavkovsky first.
Canadiens team scope:
The aforementioned Slafkovsky found the scoresheet in Montreal’s first game of the tournament, a 4-3 setback to the Sabers prospects on Thursday night in Buffalo. Slafkovsky had an assist on Montreal’s second goal of the night, a shorthanded marker.
Emil Heineman led the way for the Habs prospects with a goal and an assist for two points.
Joe Vrbetec played in goal for Montreal on Thursday, meaning that Riley Mercer could potentially get the nod tonight against the Devils.
— Marc Ciampa, NewJerseyDevils.com