New Jersey Devils News

Markstrom was the first goalie off the ice at the Flames morning skate.

Markstrom will likely return the crease for his sixth straight start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is amid his best stretch of the play since returning from a fractured finger injury two weeks ago, posting an excellent .931 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Flames are slight -112 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on December 14th but has lost two straight games and will be without Kiril Kaprizov and starting goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Jacob Markstrom
Timo Meier (mid-body) is out Wednesday in Washington and is currently being evaluated for his injury.

Meier will be unavailable for the Devils on Wednesday, January 3rd after he exited Saturday's contest against the Boston Bruins in the third period, playing only 12:30 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Meier had four points (4G / 0A) in four games after being held without a point in nine straight.

Timo Meier
Timo Meier (undisclosed) left the Devils' game Saturday with an injury and did not practice Tuesday.

Meier's status for the Devil's next game on Wednesday, January 3rd is up in the air after he exited Saturday's contest against the Boston Bruins in the third period, playing only 12:30 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Meier had four points (4G / 0A) in four games after being held without a point in nine straight.

Timo Meier
Daws will start in Ottawa on Friday.

Daws will make his season debut and his first appearance since the 2021-22 season when the Devils travel to Ottawa on Friday. Daws spent the entirety of last season with Utica (AHL), registering a .904 SV% across 33 appearances. He's made three starts in Utica this season since returning from off-season hip surgery, posting a .929 SV% across those three games. He'll have his hands full in Ottawa on Friday as he takes on a Senators' team that appears to be finding their stride after a dreadful start to the season.

Nico Daws
Jonathan Kovacevic will be a healthy scratch Thursday in Carolina.

Kovacevic will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Jordan Harris (lower-body) to make his return to the lineup from a 15-game absence. The 26-year-old Kovacevic has been a regular in the Canadiens lineup this season, scoring five points (4G / 1A), blocking 45 shots, and taking 28 hits while averaging 17:48 time-on-ice.

Johnathan Kovacevic
Jacob Markstrom will start Wednesday vs. Seattle.

Markstrom was terrific in his first two games after returning from a fractured finger (2-0-0), saving 58 of 59 shots (.983 SV%) before allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in his most recent outing. Markstrom will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken, who they defeated 4-3 on November 30th. The Flames are -139 home favourites against the Kraken, who have points in six straight (4-0-2), outscoring their opposition 21-10.

Jacob Markstrom
Nico Daws has been recalled from Utica (AHL).

Daws is no stranger to the NHL either, playing 25 games (10-11-1) with the Devils as a rookie, posting a 3.11 GAA and .893 SV%, but has yet to play for the Devils this season. The 22-year-old netminder debuted with the Utica Comets (AHL) earlier this month after returning from an injury, posting a 2.39 GAA and .929 SV% in three games (1-2-0). Daws could be an option at the NHL level at some point this season, perhaps sooner than later, especially if the goaltending tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid continues to falter.

Nico Daws
Markstrom will start Thursday's game in Anaheim.

Markstrom was excellent in his return from a fractured finger on Monday, surrendering just a single goal on 34 shots enroute to a 3-1 victory over the Panthers. It was one of the finest starts of the season for Markstrom, who now owns a .901 SV% and a 7-8-2 record on the year. He's in a great spot to keep things rolling on Thursday with the Flames being sizable favourites at -190 in Anaheim.

Jacob Markstrom
Dougie Hamilton (torn left pectoral) has been placed on long-term Injured Reserve and is expected to be out until at least the playoffs.

New Jersey was dealt a huge blow Tuesday as it was announced Dougie Hamilton is expected to be out until the playoffs after being placed on long-term Injured Reserve. The Devils will now be without their top defensemen until at least the playoffs who had five goals, 11 assists, 61 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 20 games this season prior to getting hurt. The move opens up $9 million in cap space for the Devils.

Dougie Hamilton
Nico Daws has been returned to Utica (AHL) from his emergency loan.

Daws played his first games of the season last week with the Utica Comets (AHL), posting a 2.04 GAA and .937 SV% in two games (1-1-0), making his season debut after being activated from long-term injured reserve. Last season with the Comets, Daws posted a 2.70 GAA and .904 SV% in 33 games (16-14-3). The 22-year-old netminder is no stranger to the NHL, playing 25 games (10-11-1) with the Devils as a rookie, posting a 3.11 GAA and .893 SV%. Depending on how he fares with the Comets, Daws could be an option at the NHL level at some point this season, especially if the goaltending tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid continues to falter.

Nico Daws
Jonathan Gruden has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Gruden appeared in four games this season but failed to pick up a point while collecting a -2 plus/minus and has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) Monday. The 23-year-old left-winger returns to the AHL, where he had 10 points (5G/5A) and 22 PIMs in 21 games played prior to his promotion.

Jonathan Gruden
Jacob Markstrom will start Monday vs. Florida.

Markstrom has not played since December 2nd due to a fractured finger but will return to his role as the starting goalie on Monday against the Florida Panthers. Before his injury, Markstrom recorded a point for his team in six of eight games (5-2-1) but was only able to salvage a .894 SV% in the process. That said, Markstrom has played well against the team that drafted him, posting a 3.10 GAA and .910 SV% in nine career games against the Panthers (4-4-1).

Jacob Markstrom