NEW JERSEY DEVILS (18-14-1) vs. GOLDEN KNIGHTS (16-9-6)

New Jersey is in Vegas to visit the Golden Knights on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena.

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

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ. - Check back following the Devils morning skate around 1:30 p.m. ET.

THE SCOOP

The Devils recieved some good news on Tuesday when defenseman Brett Pesce joined practice. Pesce has been out since Oct. 26, when he sustained an injury against the Colorado Avalanche. After working his way back, Pesce was on the ice with his teammates for a full practice for the first time, and the expectation is that he will be able to return to the lineup against the Golden Knights on Wednesday.

Pesce was paired with his usual partner, Luke Hughes, at practice.

Simon Nemec remains out of the Devils lineup, with Sheldon Keefe saying he will need to be evaluated in roughly two weeks' time. He is not expected back before the upcoming holiday break.

While Pesce is returning to the lineup, another player remains out. After missing the past two games with an undisclosed injury, Arseny Gritsyuk did not make the two-goal road trip to Vegas and Utah and will miss at least the two games. With his absence and the team on the West Coast, the club called up forward Nathan Légaré for the trip. This is Légaré’s second call-up this season. He’s appeared in one game for the Devils this season when the club was in Washington on Nov. 15.

The Golden Knights have been off from game play since Saturday night when they were on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brayden McNabb scored the overtime winner, his first goal of the season, to complete a comeback against the Blue Jackets. The Golden Knights completed a five-game road trip with their win against Columbus and went 4-0-1 on their trip, including a 3-0 win against the Devils on Dec. 5.

The Golden Knights are also taking a seven-game point streak into their game against New Jersey, having gone 6-0-1 in their previous seven games. They currently hold first place in the Pacific Division.

Jack Eichel has been the offensive leader for Vegas with 41 points (12g-29a), and right behind him are both Mitch Marner (6g-26a) and Ivan Barbashev (11g-14a). Marner is in his first season with the Golden Knights after playing the balance of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and all but one under current New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Luke Hughes has started to find his offensive touch. He scored the lone goal for New Jersey against the Canucks and has two goals in his last three games.

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel has been racking up the points this season and over the Golden Knights five-game road trip he collected eight assists and one goal.

INJURIES

Devils:

Nemec (lower-body)
Gritsyuk (upper-body)
J. Hughes (finger)
Pesce (upper-body)
Dadonov (upper body)
Kovacevic (knee)
McLaughlin (undisclosed)
MacEwen (upper body)

Golden Knights:

Dorofeyev (unknown)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Dec. 5, vs. Golden Knights, 3-0, L
• Dec. 17 at Golden Knights

GAME NOTES

• Jesper Bratt earned an assist on Dec. 14, which was his 476th career point and tied Scott Niedermayer for the sixth most in franchise history. Scott Gomez’ 484 career points with the Devils rank fifth all-time for franchise history.
• Bratt enters Wednesday’s contest riding a three-game point streak (1g-2a).
• Dawson Mercer enters Wednesday’s contest vs Vegas with five multi-point games this season, while his career-high for a single season is 12 (2022-23).
• Nico Hischier is two points away from reaching 500.