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The New Jersey Devils will play their second game of the preseason tonight as they host another divisional opponent in the New York Islanders. Puck drop is at 7ET and can be seen on live streams on both the Devils' and Islanders' official websites.
Again, this preview will be different from what you're accustomed to seeing from me.
The Devils will be icing a more competitive lineup in their second game (see below) as Ryane Clowe, Michael Ryder, Travis Zajac, Andy Greene, etc. draw into the lineup, as per Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record.
Olesz - Zajac - Brunner
Clowe - Loktionov - Ryder
Carter - Gionta - Zubrus
Barch - Josefson - Boucher
Salvador - Zidlicky
Greene - Severson
Gelinas - Merrill
Brodeur
Wedgewood
- Though I can't watch tonight's game - I'm covering some OHL action for TheHockeyGuys - it'll be interesting to see how Damien Brunner plays. He's a very talented player who places at a fast pace and I think he'll fit right in with Pete DeBoer's possession style of play. After all, he played a similar system in Detroit.
- Lou Lamoriello said the Devils young defence prospects would be given every opportunity to make the team, and he wasn't kidding. In the first preseason game Eric Gelinas and Alex Urbom combined for over 40 minutes of play and picked up a goal and an assist. Tonight Gelinas, Jon Merrill and Damon Severson will all be in the lineup.
The Devils have so many talented defence prospects so it's hard to predict one guy who will make the team when they have three or four capable of doing so. My money is on Gelinas right now, but maybe Lamoriello will move a veteran out to clear another spot for a guy like Merrill.
- One thing that interests me is to see how Martin Brodeur fares. It's only preseason, but Cory Schneider was flawless against the Rangers the other night. Brodeur's a competitive guy and he'll probably try and duplicate Schneider's effort.
- I'm not sure if Brodeur is getting the full game, but I hope he only plays the first 40 minutes. Scott Wedgewood is a guy I'm really high on and I think it'd be great DeBoer gave him a chance to play tonight.
- Reid Boucher wasn't great the other night and since he's a long shot to make the team, he'll need a much better effort tonight. The Devils have been getting get production from some of Boucher's competition for a roster spot - Mattias Tedenby and Rusty Olesz, in particular - so if he wants to make a team he'll have to start filling the net, and often.
- Michael Ryder makes his Devils debut tonight and will be wearing No. 17. I love it.
**
Henrik Tallinder wasn't a fan of Pete DeBoer.
Is Martin Brodeur coming back next season? It sounds like he might be.
A look at the Devils player ratings in NHL 14.
A look at the Devils top five defence prospects.
A look at the Devils top five forward prospects.
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