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The Metro Division-leading New Jersey Devils (that has a nice ring, doesn't it?) return to action tonight when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Following a spectacular start, New Jersey has cooled off a little bit losing four of their last six and getting out-chanced by ~10 per game during that stretch.
Luckily, reinforcements are on the way as Travis Zajac – arguably the best two-way player on the roster – is expected to return to the lineup this evening.
Zajac's return couldn't come at a better time with the high-powered Maple Leafs on the docket.
Even without Auston Matthews, the Maple Leafs have managed to string together a four-game winning streak. They haven't necessarily played great during that stretch, but good teams find ways to win regardless and that's what Toronto has done.
They still have a lot of firepower – more than many teams – and will be another stiff test for a Devils team that has been bleeding chances of late.
Here are the projected lineups:
New Jersey
Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Kyle Palmieri
Jesper Bratt - Travis Zajac - Drew Stafford
Adam Henrique - Brian Boyle - Miles Wood
Brian Gibbons - Blake Coleman - Stefan Noesen
Andy Greene - Steven Santini
John Moore - Damon Severson
Will Butcher - Ben Lovejoy
Cory Schneider
Toronto (via DailyFaceoff.com)
Leo Komarov - Nazem Kadri - William Nylander
James van Riemsdyk - Patrick Marleau - Zach Hyman
Connor Brown - Tyler Bozak - Mitch Marner
Matt Martin - Dominic Moore - Nikita Soshnikov
Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Andreas Borgman - Connor Carrick
Frederik Andersen
Five things to watch:
1) Nylander is tied with the likes of Hall and Steven Stamkos for 18th in the NHL in 5v5 scoring chances with 44. He has one goal to show for it. He's so due for an offensive outburst and, if the Devils defend like they have the last couple games, it could very well come tonight.
2) I'm curious to see how Zajac's return impacts the usage of the top line. I think there's more freedom to spoonfeed them offensive zone starts and put them in favorable situations, which is probably why they're sticking together for now.
3) The Devils have allowed at least 32 shots in eight consecutive games and averaged 37.3 against over that span. Their team defense has been really leaky of late but, for the most part, the goaltending has been good and helped mask it. That likely needs to be the case again if the Devils are going to win.
4) In the first eight games of the season, Henrique registered three or more 5v5 chances three times. He hasn't done it once in eight games since – he's only hit two chances twice – and has just one 5v5 assist in that span. The Devils *really* need him to pick it up because it's only a matter of time before Brian Gibbons and some of the overachievers slow down.
5) Discipline is always important, but especially so tonight. Toronto is 2nd in Expected Goals For/60 on the man advantage and are 3rd in chances/60. They're absolutely lethal and not a unit to play around with.
Puck drop is just after 7:00 p.m. Eastern and can be seen on MSG and TSN4.
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