The Devils open the 2021 Prospects Challenge tournament against the host Buffalo Sabres.
You can watch the game streamed live right here on the Devils website with Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch on the call starting at 6:50 PM ET.
Read the game preview below and check back after morning skate for the Pre-Game Report, lineup updates, videos and more.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
REPORT I Camp Officially Opens
PRE-GAME RAW | Stillman
PRE-GAME RAW | Holtz
PRE-GAME RAW | Utica Comets head coach Kevin Dineen
BY THE NUMBERS
Devils Rookies Roster
Sabres Rookies Roster
TV & RADIO
You can watch tonight's game via the Devils website right here on NJD.TV.
You can listen to tonight's game on the Devils Hockey Network.

LIVE STREAM BEGINS AT 6:45 PM

Chris Wescott and Catherine Bogart get you set for tonight's game with Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch on the call. Stay tuned after the game for our Live Post-Game Show with Chris and Catherine.
>> WATCH LIVE AT 6:50 PM ET

INSIDE THE DEVILS

Devils sign three players to Professional Tryout Contracts.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE DEVILS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

BUFFALO, NY - The New Jersey Devils open their two-game round-robin tournament slate with a match against host Buffalo at 7 p.m. at LECOM Harborcenter in the return of the Prospects Challenge.
The tournament marks the return of hockey. It also marks the return of normalcy.
"We're excited to get going," said Kevin Dineen, who is the head coach for the Devils' American Hockey League affiliate in Utica. "It should be an enjoyable weekend no matter the outcome."
That sentiment was shared by the players.
"This is feels like a real debut for me. It all starts off with this tournament," said forward Alexander Holtz, the Devils' first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. "It's going to be fun. I've been waiting for this all summer."
For Holtz and many other prospects, this weekend will mark the first time in their careers that they participate in the (normally) annual rookie series.
"It's very exciting," said forward Chase Stillman, New Jersey's first-round pick (29th overall) in 2021. "The speed has increased a lot. The guys are a lot better. Bigger, faster, stronger, that's what I expected.
"To get in a game, I'm really excited."
JUST PLAY
The Prospects Challenge is always, well, a challenge for coaches. A collection of players that have never played together, in most scenarios anyway, arrive in town. The team gets two chances to practice and then they are thrown into a game.
There isn't a lot of time to build chemistry or to even work on X's and O's. With that being the case, the Devils coaches will have a "let them play" approach.
"Our philosophy for coaching in this tournament is not to overcoach," said Dineen, who will oversee the coaching duties for the Devils. "You can throw a lot of things at these kids. But it's really just a chance for them to go out and play. For us, we plan on rolling four lines, seeing everybody, putting them in different situations where you get a chance to evaluate their skillset and capacity to handle it.
"You give them a little bit of structure then you give them a chance to go out and play."
The attitude extends to the opponents as well. There won't be any pre-scout or opponent prep.
"I don't know players on the other teams. I looked at Buffalo's roster this morning," Dineen said. "You get a little feel for some players and some names stick out. Really you don't know players' tendencies. We don't have a lot of video. We don't worry about them. We worry about our team."
MESSAGE
For many of the prospects, it'll be their first chance to show their abilities to the team's management and coaches. For some of the players, like a Nolan Foote, Holtz or Dawson Mercer, it could be the opening act for an NHL roster spot. For others, like a Nico Daws or Akira Schmid, it could be a battle for positioning in the American Hockey League with Utica.
There could be a lot at stake, however Dineen had a message for the 23 prospects as they embark on the weekend.
"No. 1, they can count. They know how many NHL spots there are," Dineen said. "They know that there are opportunities available in New Jersey, and also opportunity in Utica. Go out, put your best foot forward, and don't think that it's all going to happen in one shift. Settle in and play your game."
Holtz is one of the prospects at the tournament that is eyeing a spot on the NHL roster. And his play at the Prospects Challenge could be a springboard into training camp, which begins next Wednesday. However, he isn't thinking too far ahead.
"I don't feel any pressure," Holtz said. "I think this is fun that everyone is here. I want to show them my work ethic and my offensive game, that's my best (attribute). I'm going to go 100 percent out there and give it my best on every shift."
And even for those who know the NHL is still some years away, it is an opportunity to show the team what they can bring to the table.
"I'm going to try to play my game," Stillman said. "The one thing I can control is my work ethic. So hopefully that'll be top notch tonight.
"I want to prove to the coaches that I can play that high-intensity game and keep up the pace. I want to show off some of my skillset. I'm playing with better players now, and want to show off a little more of an offensive side. Hopefully we can generate and produce, score some goals."
WORKFLOW
The Devils will use the following lineup tonight…
Foote-Mercer-Holtz
Talvitie-Schnarr-Clarke
Stevens-Stillman-Thompson
Grasso-Irvine-Zetterlund
Okhotiuk-Bahl
Vukojevic-Walsh
Groleau-Masonius
Daws
Mitens
-- Sam Kasan, NewJerseyDevils.com

PREVIEW

DEVILS at SABRES
TV: 7:00 PM ET; Streamed here on NJD.TV
Head-to-Head:
The annual Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge makes its return after going on a hiatus last season due to the pandemic. The last time that this tournament occurred was in 2019 where the Devils Prospects fell 6-4 to the Sabres Prospects.
Devils team scope:
The Devils have some faces on their squad that fans are eager to see suit up in the Black & Red. 2020 first-round selections Alexander Holtz and Dawson Mercer lead the way for the club.
This year's first rounder Chase Stillman will also be playing while fourth-overall pick Luke Hughes won't play because he's a college player getting ready to start his season with Michigan. Big blueliner Kevin Bahl, acquired in the Taylor Hall trade, leads the blueliners in terms of name recognition.
View the entire Devils Prospects roster here.
Sabres team scope:
The Sabres' biggest name is arguably Jack Quinn, who was selected 8th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. Like Luke Hughes, 2021 first-overall selection Owen Power will be playing for Michigan so he won't be in the tournament.
J-J Peterka will be another player to keep an eye on, the Sabres' second-round selection in 2020.
Buffalo's top defense pairing, Mattias Samuelsson and Oskari Laaksonen, should give all other prospects fits in this tournament. The pair both played in AHL Rochester last season and should challenge for a spot on Buffalo's big club.
View the entire Sabres Prospects roster here
-- Marc Ciampa, NewJerseyDevils.com