Devils Face High-Powered Oilers | PREVIEW

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (9-5-0) vs. EDMONTON OILERS (11-2-2)

New Jersey hosts Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers at Prudential Center on Tuesday night for a national TV showdown. Puck drop is 7:38 p.m. ET.

Read below for your Game Preview presented by Michael Martinetti Group and pre-game updates.

The Devils look to bounce back after a four-game winning streak ended in Colorado.

MORNING SKATE UPDATES

NEWARK, NJ - Check back following the Devils' 10:30 a.m. morning skate at Prudential Center.

THE SCOOP

The Devils return home after a successful road trip out west. The team pulled out a 2-1-0 record with impressive wins at Dallas and Vegas. New Jersey is second in the Metro Division and trying to catch Carolina for the top spot. 

The Devils have won five of their last six games, and six of their past eight. The change comes after making an adjustment in the defensive zone and a greater commitment in their own zone. The results speak for the themselves. 

New goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has two games under his belt with his new team, and two wins to go with it. He's stopped 36 of 39 shots faced and was critical in snuffing out scoring chances in Vegas. 

Arseny Gritsyuk (see Players to Watch below) and Jack Hughes have carried the offense over the past 10 games. 

The Oilers finish a three-game tri-state swing in New Jersey. They’re going for the sweep after defeating the New York Islanders, 4-0, and Rangers, 4-1. It’s been a fast start under new head coach Mike Babcock. The team opened the season with an 8-1-1 record and has skated out to an 11-2-2 mark to open the season and open a wide lead in the Pacific Division.

The offense has powered the Oilers in the first month of the season. They rank second in the league with 4.20 goals per game (behind Colorado, 4.21) as of Monday. The catalyst has been the big three: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.

McDavid is enjoyed a start for the ages. He has a 15-game point streak with nine goals and 30 assists for 39 points. He’s recorded an assist in all 15 games played, an NHL record for an assist streak to start a season. The 15-game assist streak is also a career long. What’s more, McDavid leads the NHL in assists (30) and points (39). Behind McDavid in points are teammates Draisaitl (28) and Bouchard (26).

Another key for Edmonton this season has been its improved defensive play. The team ranks eighth in goals allowed per game at 2.87. Last year, the Oilers surrendered 3.23 goals per game. With a knee injury to new goalie Frederik Andersen keeping him out until December, Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi have split the duties in goal.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Devils: Arseny Gritsyuk

The Russian winger scored two goals at Vegas. He has seven goals in his past seven games, which included a five-game goal scoring streak. On the year, Gritsyuk has a team-best eight goals to go with his 12 points in 14 games. 

Oilers: Evan Bouchard

Connor McDavid is the obvious choice for player to watch. But you’ll be watching him anyway. So, also keep an eye on Evan Bouchard. He opened the season with a hat trick and five-point game against Vancouver. Only twice in his 15 games has he been held off the scoresheet. Bouchard’s 18 assists are second in the NHL (behind teammate McDavid’s 30). He also ranks third in the NHL with 26 points (behind McDavid, 39, and Draisaitl, 28).

INJURIES

Devils:

• Seamus Casey: knee, IR, non-roster

Oilers:

• Atro Leppanen: IR, Non-roster
• Mattias Janmark: undisclosed, IR

• Frederik Anderson: knee, IR, Non-roster

• Matt Savoie: lower-body, LTIR

• Alec Regular: undisclosed, LTIR

• Devon Levi: undisclosed, IR

• Zack Hyman: undisclosed, IR

• Isaac Howard: undisclosed, day-to-day

26-27 REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Nov. 3 vs. Edmonton
• Jan. 28 at Edmonton