NEW JERSEY DEVILS (38-29-7) vs. MINNESOTA WILD (41-27-5)

New Jersey end a three-game road trip in Minnesota. Puck drop is 6:08 p.m. ET.

You can watch on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below. Tonight's game is presented by Blue Nail Exteriors.

PRE-GAME AVAILABILITY RECAP

ST. PAUL, MN - The Devils return to the ice less than 24 hours after their loss in Winnipeg and hope to turn their fortunes around against the Minnesota Wild.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated there may be some lineup changes on deck for his team, though they will wait for warmups to unfold before those final decisions are made.

Regarding defenseman Luke Hughes, who missed yesterday's game with a groin injury, he remains a game-time decision again today. He expects to take warmups before deciding on his availability against the Wild.

“He’s a little better today, so we’ll follow the same kind of plan, get him on the ice and make a determination from there," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "It’s a groin injury, so it’s really based on how he feels and the comfort.”

One of the things Keefe is stressing for his team is not to put themselves behind the eight-ball with self-inflicted goals against, as happened against the Jets. And the Wild are also in a similar position where they're missing some of their top-tier talent as well, without superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson-Ek.

"They’re a team that’s going to make it real hard for you to get to the net," Keefe said. "They’re going to defend real well and real hard. Like us, they’ve got some good offensive people out and trying to find ways to grind out wins. It’s been a challenge for us offensively, so today is going to be more of the same. I’m expecting a low-event game, so we’ve got to make sure we’re taking care of our net and not giving them freebies like we did yesterday to play from behind."

THE SCOOP

The Devils game in Minnesota marks the penultimate road game of the 2024-25 regular season and the beginning of a home-and-home with the Wild. New Jersey has been working its way through the final stretch of the season without three of its top players and, on Friday night, was without a fourth.

Jack Hughes will only return next season after undergoing shoulder surgery; both Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler remain out for the remainder of the regular season. On Friday night, Luke Hughes was held out for precautionary reasons, dealing with a lower-body injury. His status remains day-to-day and will be evaluated before deciding on whether he will play against the Wild.

The Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points, nine points behind the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. In their rear-view mirror, the Columbus Blue Jackets are closest to the Devils, eight points behind with three games in hand.

The Minnesota Wild hold on to the first Wild Card spot in the West with 87 points and are fighting for position with the St. Louis Blues who are currently in the second Wild Card spot with 85 points. Minnesota is six points behind the Colorado Avalanche for third in the Central Division.

Minnesota has had a slew of significant injuries of their own this season. They have been without star forward Kirill Kaprizov since Jan. 26. Kaprizov had 52 points (23g-29a) in 37 games before sustaining his injury.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Before the game against the Jets, captain Nico Hischier was riding an eight-game point streak to match the longest such streak of his career. Hischier had 10 points during the stretch with four goals and six assists and two two-point nights.

Wild: Matt Boldy runs the course for the Wild over the past five games; he leads the Wild in points (6), goals (3), and assists (3).

INJURIES

Devils: J.Hughes (shoulder, LTIR), Siegenthaler (undisclosed, LTIR), Hamilton (undisclosed, week-to-week), Glass (undisclosed), L. Hughes (lower-body, day-to-day)

Wild: Chisholm (undisclosed, day-to-day), Eriksson Ek (lower-body, IR), Kaprizov (lower-body, IR), Grosenick (IR-Non Roster)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• March 29 at Minnesota
• March 30 at New Jersey