NEW JERSEY DEVILS (2-2-1) at NEW YORK RANGERS (2-1-1)
New Jersey continues its preseason schedule with his second-last game tonight at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.
You can watch on MSGSN & MSG or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below. The game is presented by Connections Personnel
• TV: MSGSN & MSG
• RADIO: Devils Hockey Network
Jack Hughes speaks to the media about the team signing his brother Luke and more.
NEWARK, NJ – The Devils took the ice for a full morning skate Thursday at Madison Square Garden, where they’ll face the Rangers in the penultimate game of the preseason. With the majority of the regular lineup dressed, head coach Sheldon Keefe is treating tonight as a dress rehearsal for opening night.
“With the Rangers here today, it’s somewhat identical to what a regular season road game against New York would look like — a 7:00 PM start, the routine, everything about it,” Keefe said about why he chose a more veteran lineup tonight versus 12:30 PM on Saturday in Philadelphia. “It’s as close to a regular full day as you can get our guys. That’s why you’ll see most of our group out there — a close representation of our team here today in New York.”
Line rushes during the skate were:
Dadonov – J. Hughes – Bratt
Meier – Hischier – Mercer
Palat – Glass – Brown
Cotter – Glendening – Gritsyuk
Vilen – Pesce
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Dillon – Nemec
Jacob Markstrom is likely to get the start in goal.
CONFIDENCE AND CHEMISTRY
Captain Nico Hischier said the focus this time of year is on building momentum as a group.
“You want to feel good about yourself, to feel good about the team,” Hischier said. “That’s what we’re trying to get out of this” .
The Devils’ power play has been sharp through camp, and Hischier believes it will remain a critical piece. “We know what we can do on the power play. It comes down to execution and being on the same page. We’ve got the skills, and we’ve proven that. In this league, having a good power play is huge — sometimes at five-on-five not much is happening, and that’s when it can make the difference in a game”.
HUGHES BROTHERS REUNITED
This week brought a boost with Luke Hughes rejoining the team after signing his new contract, something that didn’t go unnoticed by older brother Jack.
“I know he wanted to be here, and our group wanted him here,” Jack said. “I’m excited he’s finally here and can be a part of the group” .
On the ice, Jack continues to build chemistry with Jesper Bratt and Evgenii Dadonov. “It’s been good so far,” he added. “He’s [Dadonov] really skilled and thinks really fast. Hopefully it should work out”.
BROWN’S FIRST TASTE
For Connor Brown, Thursday will be his first taste of the Hudson River rivalry, and his first game at Madison Square Garden in a Devils sweater.
“It’s such a storied rivalry, so it’ll be fun to get it going,” Brown said .
Brown has been alongside Ondrej Palat and Cody Glass throughout camp, a combination he believes can click. “It’s really important to be able to communicate with your linemates — where you want the puck, where you’re going to release it. Those little things lead to maintaining possession and creating offense,” he explained.
THE SCOOP
The Devils continue their preseason schedule with a game at MSG against the Rangers. In five exhibition schedule games so far, the Devils have won twice, lost twice and fallen in a shootout. In their last game action, they had two contests this past Sunday. One was a 3-2 shootout loss to the Capitals and the other was a 2-0 setback in Quebec City against the Ottawa Senators.
Jack Hughes is pacing the Devils in the preseason with four points (all assists) in two games. Arseny Gritsyuk, Brian Halonen and Simon Nemec are tied for second on the team with three points apiece.
Rangers opened their preseason schedule with a win over the Devils. They followed that up with a pair of losses to the Bruins and Islanders before defeating the Isles 3-2 in overtime in their most recent contest.
LINEUPS
Devils: On Monday, the Devils practiced following making cuts, trimming their camp roster by 16. Following that practice, head coach Sheldon Keefe said that the first group that day would be similar to the group that plays the Rangers:
Dadonov – Hughes – Bratt
Meier – Hischier – Mercer
Palat – Glass – Brown
Cotter – Glendening – Gritsyuk
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Dillon – Nemec
Casey – Pesce
Cholowski – MacDermid
Markstrom
Allen
Rangers: Rangers haven’t determined if Artemi Panarin will play. He’s been battling a nagging injury all training camp and hasn’t suited up yet. The lines the Rangers had in their last practice were:
Panarin – Trocheck – Cuylle
Perreault – Zibanejad – Lafrenière
Sheary – Brodzinski – Raddysh
Edström – Chmelar – Rempe
Tarasenko – Fox
Soucy – Boqvist
Vaakanainen – Schneider
Robertson – Morrow
Shesterkin
Quick
INJURIES
Devils: Kovacevic (lower body) is out; Noesen (lower body) is out; McLaughlin (undisclosed) is out.
Rangers: Miller (lower body) is day-to-day; Carrick (lower body) is day-to-day; Panarin (undisclosed) is day-to-day.
24-25 REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS
GAME NOTES
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