DEVILS (9-13-4) vs. GOLDEN KNIGHTS (14-11-4)
TV: 7:00 p.m. ET; Televised on MSG
Head-to-Head:
Tonight's game is the first of two meetings between the two teams this season.
Last season, the two teams split their games with the Devils winning 5-4 in overtime at Prudential Center and the Golden Knights winning 3-2 in Las Vegas. Nico Hischier had two goals while William Karlsson had two for Vegas.
Devils team scope:
The Devils are in the midst of a tough stretch in which they've only won two out of seven games.
After blocking a shot in Montreal, Jack Hughes has been out for the team's last two games. We'll check in with the team a few hours before puck drop to get the status on him.
Taylor Hall had four points in two games against the Vegas Golden Knights in the team's inaugural year of 2017-18. Devils handed Vegas their toughest loss of their inaugural season, beating them 8-3 on home ice.
Golden Knights team scope:
The Golden Knights are coming off a 4-1 win against the Rangers in Madison Square Garden on Monday night. The win was their third straight, coming off what was previously three straight losses.
They sit third in the Pacific Division with 32 points through 29 games. Three divisional opponents sit within two points of them, however.
Max Pacioretty leads the team with 26 points in 29 games while Mark Stone is second with 24. Reilly Smith leads in goals with 12.
Garrett Sparks could get a start tonight after Malcolm Subban went on Monday against the Rangers. Marc-Andre Fleury is away from the team after his father passed away last week. Sparks has only played one game this season, allowing two goals in 27 minutes of action in relief against the Colorado Avalanche. This would be his first start as a member of the Golden Knights after being acquired from Toronto last summer.
By the Numbers:
This is the seventh out of 16 times that the Devils will play back-to-back games this season. They are 1-4-2 in the first game after Monday's loss. They are much better in the second game in back-to-back situations at 3-2-1.
Despite the lopsided loss on Monday, the team did register 45 shots on goal, which was a season high.
The Devils allowed five goals in the first period of Monday's game. It was the first time since February 9, 1993 that they allowed five goals in the first period. In that game, the Devils lost 8-5 to Detroit.
Injury Updates:
Devils - Jack Hughes (lower body) is questionable; Connor Carrick (upper body) is questionable
Golden Knights - Marc-Andre Fleury (personal reasons) is questionable; Cody Eakin (head) is day-to-day
-- Marc Ciampa, NewJerseyDevils.com
