THE SCOOP
The Devils look to put a tough night on Long Island behind them as they return home to open a three-game homestand against the Utah Mammoth.
New Jersey will make one change to its lineup, with Jesper Boqvist drawing in after sitting out the opening two games. Boqvist will skate on the fourth line alongside Amadeus Lombardi and Cody Glass, replacing Stefan Noesen.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe explained that Boqvist had been targeted for this matchup all along, particularly with the speed Utah brings.
“We knew with Utah on the schedule here, we know it’s going to be a fast game,” Keefe said. “Speed is going to be really important. We had Boqy coming into this game regardless. It’s not in response to anything, but I’d like to see that line be better for sure.”
Keefe also pointed to Boqvist’s ability to use his skating to help move the fourth line up the ice.
“There’s a skillset that comes with the speed. He can transport the puck and he can make a play,” Keefe said. “Not having Brown, that’s a lot of what he can bring that helps that line and drives the line.”
Boqvist’s speed could be particularly useful against a Mammoth team that has played with plenty of pace through the opening week of the season.
Utah opened its season with back-to-back victories, first shutting out Chicago 6-0 before defeating Columbus 4-1. The Mammoth scored 10 goals over those first two games, with 15 of their 18 skaters recording at least one point.
Special teams have been a major driver of that early success. Utah went 5-for-7 on the power play through its first two games.
Utah most recent result was a loss to the New York Rangers, but the Mammoth still generated 30 shots and entered the third period tied 1-1 before the Rangers pulled away.
