NEW JERSEY DEVILS (1-1-0) at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (1-1-0)

The Devils wrap up their three-game road trip in Columbus, facing the Blue Jackets.

Read below for your game preview presented by Donnelly Energy and check back for the pre-game story.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

COLUMBUS, OH - The Devils are on the ice for their morning skate in Columbus at Nationwide Arena ahead of facing the Blue Jackets this evening.

Forward Zack MacEwen, who was hurt in the third period Saturday in Tampa Bay, was not on the ice with the team. Brian Halonen, who was recalled late Sunday, took his spot on the fourth line.

The Devils also announced on Sunday that forward Evgenii Dadonov (hand) will be out due to a fracture suffered in the season opener last Thursday in Carolina.

The Devils used the following workflow, with which Jake Allen will make his season debut in between the pipes:

Power Distribution

The Devils worked with some new looks on their power play units:

PP1: Hamilton, Bratt, Hischier, J. Hughes, Meier
PP2: L. Hughes, Gritsyuk, Palat, Glass, Mercer

While the club has yet to convert a man-advantage tally in the opening two games, Keefe said the switch had more to do with the opposition’s PK than what he’s seen from his power play thus far.

“You’ll see our power play change periodically as we play different opponents,” Keefe said. “They play with different styles penalty killing. This is one here today. The changes are more in response to the opponent than anything else.

“There are some different nuances of the penalty kill that fit the skillset of Dougie in particular that we want to be able to work.”

Halo's Comet

Devils forward Brian Halonen will see his first NHL action of the year after being recalled Sunday.

“I’m very excited to get an opportunity to play early in the season,” Halonen said. “I’m just looking to do my best and try to fill a role for the team.”

Halonen, 26, appeared in two games for the Devils last year, while spend the bulk of the season in Utica of the American Hockey League. He posted a team-best 27 goals last year for the Comets while adding 40 points and a plus-9.

“He’s put in his time in Utica. And he has been a leader down there with his play, his attitude and his work,” Keefe said. “So, when you need a guy early in the season there are a lot of people in the organization that go to bat for him.

“Even in the short time he spent with us last season, you saw some elements in his game that with greater opportunity you want to see how it plays out. There’s a chance here now.”

So Far, So Good

Devils defenseman Luke Hughes missed nearly the entirety of training camp and did not play in any preseason games. His first action was in the regular season. Despite missing that workload, he said he feels good so far with how he's played.

“I feel great. I trained really hard in the summer to be game ready,” Hughes said. “Body feels great. Mind feels great. We’re two games in, so we have 80 left. Just going one at a time here.”

Scouting the Blue Jackets

Keefe on Columbus: “This is a team that seems to get better and better every time you play them. A lot of that is their youth and how they develop and get better. They have so much skill and speed throughout their lineup.

“You look at them as a healthy group with the veterans they have and adding Coyle, there is a lot of depth through their team. We expect it to be a competitive, hard-fought game. They played really well in their first couple games and this building is always difficult to play in.”

THE SCOOP

The Devils and Blue Jackets have both opened their season with a win and a loss. New Jersey lost their season opener in Carolina by a score of 6-3, though the game was tied 3-3 until the Hurricanes scored with 2:43 left. On Saturday, the Devils defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3.

Columbus opened their season in Nashville and lost 2-1. They followed that up with a strong performance, however, defeating the Minnesota Wild 7-4 in what was the Wild's home opener.

Both teams are tied for fourth in the Metro Division and the first wild card spot in this early stage of the season.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Arseny Gritsyuk had two assists last game playing on a line with Connor Brown. Luke Hughes is also off to a strong start with four assists to start the season.

Blue Jackets: Kirill Marchenko has three goals through two games to lead the Jackets. He's picking up where he left off last season with a career-high 31 goals and 74 points.

INJURIES

Devils: Kovacevic (knee) is month-to-month; Noesen (groin) is day-to-day; Casey (lower body), undisclosed; Dadonov (hand) is out; McLaughlin (undisclosed), Lammikko (undisclosed).

Blue Jackets: No injuries.

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Dec. 19 at Blue Jackets, 4-2 L
• Mar. 11 vs. Blue Jackets, 5-3 W
• Mar. 17 at Blue Jackets, 2-1 W

GAME NOTES

• Luke Hughes had two goals and four points in three games against Columbus last season, tied with Jesper Bratt for the team lead.
• The winning team has recorded four or more goals in nine of the last 12 meetings overall since Jan. 8, 2022 and eight of the past 10 played at Nationwide Arena dating back to Jan. 15, 2019.
• Six of the last 10 overall games have been decided by multiple goals with five of those games decided by three-plus tallies.
• The Blue Jackets hold a 5-3-1 edge over the Devils in overtime games in the all-time series and are 2-0-0 in those games at Nationwide Arena
• Columbus has gone 27-of-30 (90.0 pct.) on the penalty kill in their last 14 games played at Nationwide Arena in the series.
• The teams have combined for 60 shots or more in 14 of the last 17 overall games of the series.