After several days off to work on systems - and make cuts - the New Jersey Devils are back in action tonight as they hit the road to take on the Philadelphia Flyers (7 ET, TCN-PH).
Only two tune up games remain (including tonight) so it's no surprise that the Devils decided to cut bait with a lot of their bubble players earlier in the week.
With just 27 players - including a banged up Patrik Elias and Mike Cammalleri - left in camp tonight's lineup will resemble what we'll see on opening night more than any other the Devils have iced thus far.
Let's take a look:
Boucher - Zajac - Palmieri Henrique - Josefson - Ruutu Stempniak - Kalinin - Tlusty Matteau - Zacha - Gionta
Severson - Merrill Schlemko - Larsson Helgeson - Gelinas
Kinkaid Schneider
What to watch:
- The Devils have scored just 11 goals in five games this preseason. They're implementing a new system, and the lineups have been inconsistent, so it's understandable they haven't been filling the net but with close to a full lineup (only five regulars missing) it'd be nice to see a little more tonight.
- Reid Boucher has scored in consecutive games and has all but locked up a spot on the team. Another good showing tonight could very well do that.
- John Hynes said Pavel Zacha will not be kept around for the sake of getting a little experience so if he's still with the team opening night it's because they feel he's done enough to earn a spot (at least temporarily). His play tonight - and perhaps in the preseason finale - will help determine whether he sticks around. He needs to turn it up a notch if he wants to stay.
- There will be 3-on-3 in tonight's game regardless of score. The Devils strike many - myself included - as a team that wouldn't fare overly well in the new system yet they're 2-0 in overtime thus far. It'll be interesting to see if that trend continues tonight against a Flyers team that is expected to dress Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds, among others.
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