New Jersey Devils News

The Jets have won six of their last seven (6-1-0) due largely to Hellebuyck elevating his game recently. Still a far cry from his career-average .916 SV%, Hellebuyck has a .906 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0) after posting only a .891 SV% in his first eight contests this season (4-3-1). The Jets are slight -109 road favourites on Wednesday against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that, despite winning three straight, has allowed four or more goals in six consecutive contests (3-3-0).

Evangelista was a surprising healthy scratch on Monday but will return to the lineup on Wednesday and skate alongside Kiefer Sherwood and Juuso Parssinen on the Predators' second line. Evangelista has nine points (1G / 8A) in 16 games this season, averaging 15:02 time-on-ice.

The Jets have won six of their last seven (6-1-0) due largely to Hellebuyck elevating his game recently. Still a far cry from his career-average .916 SV%, Hellebuyck has a .906 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0) after posting only a .891 SV% in his first eight contests this season (4-3-1). The Jets are slight -109 road favourites on Wednesday against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that, despite winning three straight, has allowed four or more goals in six consecutive contests (3-3-0).

Glass picked up his first assist, of the season and played 13:07 TOI Monday vs. Colorado but was announced week-to-week with a lower-body injury and has been placed on the injured reserve. The 24-year-old has struggled mightily out of the gate in 2023-24, with one assist, 17 SOG, two PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus in nine games after putting up 14 goals and 35 points in 2022-23.

Hischier skated for his second full practice on Tuesday but will not play Wednesday as New Jersey heads to Detroit. The 24-year-old center has missed the Devils' previous nine games but is expected to practice again Wednesday. He has two goals, 14 SOG, four PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in seven games prior to his injury last month.

Evangelista has a goal, eight assists, 27 SOG, two PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus in 16 games this season but will be a surprisingly healthy scratch Monday vs. Colorado. The 21-year-old right-winger will be replaced by Liam Foudy in the Predators' lineup Monday.

Hischier, who has missed nine games since suffering an upper-body injury on October 27th, seems to be nearing his return to the Devils' lineup. Before his injury, he was off to a slow start this season, scoring only two points (2G / 0A) in seven games, playing most commonly alongside Ondrej Palat on Jesper Bratt.

Hughes last played on November 3rd when he fell awkwardly into the boards but appears ready to return to action on Saturday after being a full participant at practice on Friday. This would mark approximately two weeks since Hughes last played, the low end of his initial two-to-four-week timeline. Before his injury, Hughes led the league with 20 points (5G / 15A) in 10 games and is expected to retake his place on the Devils' top line and top powerplay unit.

Allen has backed up the last three games for Montreal but will take the crease Saturday in Boston. The 33-year-old veteran netminder has been solid when called upon this season, with his 3-3-1 record, .911 SV% and 3.30 GAA. He draws the touch task of facing Boston on the road Saturday, who has won three of their last four games and are 13th in the NHL in goals per game (3.33).

In Brown's four games before his injury, he was averaging 2.25 shots per game, a vast improvement over the 0.80 he was averaging in the five games prior, and perhaps a sign that he is re-finding his game. Brown, who has yet to record a point through nine games this season, skated at practice alongside Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at practice on Friday.

Hughes last played on November 3rd when he fell awkwardly into the boards but appears ready to return to action on Saturday after being a full participant at practice on Friday. This would mark approximately two weeks since Hughes last played, the low end of his initial two-to-four-week timeline. Before his injury, Hughes led the league with 20 points (5G / 15A) in 10 games and is expected to retake his place on the Devils' top line and top powerplay unit.

Hellebuyck will start for the Jets on Friday, the front end of a back-to-back, likely serving as the backup to Laurent Brossoit on Saturday. As expected, Hellebuyck has been a workhorse for the Jets thus far, starting 12 of 15 games, but his performance has been somewhat out of character. Despite a strong 7-4-1 record, Hellebuyck is sporting a career-low GAA (2.99) and SV% (.892) but seems to be inching his way back on track, posting a .906 SV% in his last three contests (2-1-0). The Jets, who have won four of their last five (4-1-0), have a favourable matchup on Friday as -178 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that has been outscored 9-2 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will be without elite goal-scorer Tage Thompson.

Hellebuyck is the likely starter for the Jets on Friday, the front end of a back-to-back, likely serving as the backup to Laurent Brossoit on Saturday. As expected, Hellebuyck has been a workhorse for the Jets thus far, starting 12 of 15 games, but his performance has been somewhat out of character. Despite a strong 7-4-1 record, Hellebuyck is sporting a career-low GAA (2.99) and SV% (.892) but seems to be inching his way back on track, posting a .906 SV% in his last three contests (2-1-0). The Jets, who have won four of their last five (4-1-0), have a favourable matchup on Friday as -178 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that has been outscored 9-2 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will be without elite goal-scorer Tage Thompson.

Mantha is expected to return to the lineup after last playing on November 8th, when he scored two goals, playing 12:58 against the Florida Panthers. In 10 games this season, Mantha has been held without a point in eight, totalling four points (2G / 2A). In addition to his lack of production, Mantha is averaging only 12:43 time-on-ice per game, nearly two minutes less than last season, his lowest total since his rookie campaign with the Detroit Red Wings in 2015-16.

Meier was "banged up" in Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and was a game-time decision on Thursday. Meier's absence would be a huge blow for a New Jersey Devils team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) and is already without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. After a slow start to the season, Meier has 11 points (5G / 6A) and has fired 38 shots on goal in his last 11 games.

Meier was "banged up" in Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and will be a game-time decision on Thursday. Meier's absence would be a huge blow for a New Jersey Devils team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) and is already without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. After a slow start to the season, Meier has 11 points (5G / 6A) and has fired 38 shots on goal in his last 11 games.