NEW JERSEY DEVILS (19-9-1) vs. DALLAS STARS (17-5-5)

New Jersey play their sixth game in 10 days when they host the Dallas Stars at Prudential Center.

Read below for your game preview presented by Coast Linen Services and check back for the pre-game story.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ - The Devils held a full morning skate at Prudential Center on Wednesday morning ahead of hosting the Dallas Stars.

Defenseman Brenden Dillon, who missed a portion of last game and the entire third period with an injury, was on the ice and is expected to play in the contest.

"He's in good spirits and feeling good," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "That's the plan," he added referring to Dillon playing in the game.

The Devils used the following workflow…

HONORED

Before tonight’s game, Dillon will be honored for having played in his 1,000^th game on Monday. There will be a pre-game ceremony.

“He’s not the guy that wants too much attention. But it’s his 1,000^th game ceremony, it’s only once in your lifetime,” Jonas Siegenthaler said. “For him, he’s such a great guy. Everybody is thrilled for him in this locker room.”

“He means a lot to this group,” forward Connor Brown said. “He’s a big-time emotional leader in here. He’s a guy that would standup for his teammates no matter who the opponent is.”

SPECIALTY TEAM

The Stars have the No. 2-ranked power play in the NHL (31.9%) while the Devils PK is ranked seventh (82.7%). Dallas also boasts the NHL's top three point producers on the power play in Mikko Rantanen (18), Wyatt Johnston (18) and Jason Robertson (15).

"The best way is to stay out of the penalty box and the next best way is to win the faceoff and get the clears, disupt their entries and all that kind of stuff," Keefe said. "Power play is a big part of their game, and big part of what gets their best offensive people feeling it and confident. That'll be a big focus."

HEATED

Siegenthaler, in the previous game against the Blue Jackets, was given a game misconduct after it was revealed that he didn’t have his fight strap tied down.

“It’s new to me. I didn’t know the rule,” he admitted. “Now I know to strap up.”

Overall, the game featured four fights, multiple scrums and over 70 combined penalty minutes.

“Emotions were high. It was just a heated game,” Siegenthaler said. “We just wanted to send a message there. We did that pretty well. It was an intense game.”

HE SAID IT

Siegenthaler on the Stars: “They have four lines that can score. They’re skilled and heavy with big bodies. We have to play the same way. We have to be heavy and play quick in the corners, transition fast and let our skill take over. They’re a good team but I think we need to be aware, time management, know when there’s a play or when we have to dump in the puck.”

THE SCOOP

DEVILS

The New Jersey Devils are trying to end a two-game home-ice slide after losses to Philadelphia and Columbus most recently. New Jersey is coming off an emotional game against the Blue Jackets, where they were forced to reckon with the absence of Brenden Dillon, who was thrown to the ice in a fight with Dmitri Voronko. Dillon was playing in his 1000th NHL game, though he did return briefly; he was held out for the final period for precautionary reasons.

Over the last nine days, the Devils have played five games, with a 3-2-0 record. In that stretch, they’ve only played once on the road, in Buffalo (5-0, W). New Jersey currently sits second in the Metro standings, one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Devils did not practice on Tuesday, but spent their day out in the community, visiting local hospitals.

STARS

The Dallas Stars on one of the hottest teams in the league, currently on a run of 10-1-2 over their last 13 games. Most recently, the Stars lost in overtime to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. But the game wasn’t all they lost as forward Tyler Seguin left the game with an injury and did not return, while goaltender Jake Oettinger, who was scheduled to start the game, dressed as the backup, fighting an illness. Casey DeSmith started for the Stars.

The Stars have a wealth of offensive talent to be on the lookout for in Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. Dallas has scored the third-most goals to date, with 95. They're also a force to be reckoned with as a visitor, boasting a 9-1-4 record away from the Lone Star State.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: The Swiss duo of Nico Hischier and Timo Meier continue to make things happen offensively for New Jersey. Hischier has nine points in his last five games. Both he and Meier have five goals over their last five games, with Hischier on a six-game point streak (6g-6a). Meier has a six-game point streak as well with five goals and three assists.

Stars: Wyatt Johnston is coming off a four-point night against the Senators on Nov. 30 at home in Dallas. He scored a hat trick and added an assist against Ottawa. He has four goals and six points in his last three games.

INJURIES

Devils:

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

Stars:

Harley (lower body)
Bichsel (lower body)
Lundkvist (lower body)
McDonald (knee)
Erne (lower body)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Dec. 3 vs Stars
• Mar. 24 at Stars

GAME NOTES

• Defenseman Brenden Dillon played his 1000th NHL game on Monday night. A celebration of his milestone will take place on Wednesday night, against the team where he started his NHL career - the Dallas Stars.
• In the absence of both Dillon and Jonas Siegenthaler for much of the game on Monday, Simon Nemec played over 30 minutes to mark a new career-high.
• Forward Jamie Benn played his 1200th NHL game last night. He has played his entire career with the Stars.
• Nathan Bastian returns to Prudential Center after signing with the Stars as a free agent in the off-season.