Is this the first meaningful game against the Devils since the 2009 Playoffs?
The Canes are riding an 11 game point streak that allowed them to close what was an 11 point gap on the Devils to a tie. The Devils own the tiebreaker. The lineup could be a bit unsettled. Drury was sent to Chicago yesterday ahead of the roster freeze. We’ll have to see if there are any transactions today or if Aho is good to go. Expect Koochie in goal.
The Devils have to be counted on as one of the surprise teams of the year. Since losing the 2012 Final, they’ve made the playoffs once, in 2017-18. They finished with 63 points last season, 5th worst in the league. But these are clearly not those Devils. They’re coming in on a 5 game losing streak, one of them in OT, and 4-4-2 in their last 10. They have the best road points % in the league at 11-1-1. Jack Hughes leads with 16 goals, he and Jesper Bratt have 20 assists. Bratt and Nico Hischier are also in double figures for goals. Dougie Hamilton has 7 goals, 17 assists. Vitek Vanacek has carried the load in goal, starting 18 games. He’s at 2.37/.912. Mackenzie Blackwood completed a conditioning stint in Utica, he’s been out since November 3 with a sprained MCL. Before the injury, he wasn’t great, at 2.79/.880. The Devils can score, 7th in goals per game and 3rd in goals against. They’re 20th on the PP, 10th on the PK.
Red jerseys tonight. Bally Sports South for TV.
The Canes are riding an 11 game point streak that allowed them to close what was an 11 point gap on the Devils to a tie. The Devils own the tiebreaker. The lineup could be a bit unsettled. Drury was sent to Chicago yesterday ahead of the roster freeze. We’ll have to see if there are any transactions today or if Aho is good to go. Expect Koochie in goal.
The Devils have to be counted on as one of the surprise teams of the year. Since losing the 2012 Final, they’ve made the playoffs once, in 2017-18. They finished with 63 points last season, 5th worst in the league. But these are clearly not those Devils. They’re coming in on a 5 game losing streak, one of them in OT, and 4-4-2 in their last 10. They have the best road points % in the league at 11-1-1. Jack Hughes leads with 16 goals, he and Jesper Bratt have 20 assists. Bratt and Nico Hischier are also in double figures for goals. Dougie Hamilton has 7 goals, 17 assists. Vitek Vanacek has carried the load in goal, starting 18 games. He’s at 2.37/.912. Mackenzie Blackwood completed a conditioning stint in Utica, he’s been out since November 3 with a sprained MCL. Before the injury, he wasn’t great, at 2.79/.880. The Devils can score, 7th in goals per game and 3rd in goals against. They’re 20th on the PP, 10th on the PK.
Red jerseys tonight. Bally Sports South for TV.