NEW JERSEY DEVILS (27-24-2) vs. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (24-23-5)

New Jersey hosts the Nashville Predators at Prudential Center on Thursday night. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.

Read below for your game preview presented by Connections Personnel and check back for the pre-game story.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ. - The Devils held a full morning skate on Thursday ahead of hosting the Nashville Predators at Prudential Center.

Newly acquired winger Maxim Tsyplakov joined the group for the first time and will make his Devils’ debut tonight.

Center Cody Glass, who suffered an injury after being hit by a shot Tuesday against Winnipeg, did not skate and will not play in the game.

"Looks like he escaped any sort of fracture, which is good news," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "I would say he's day-to-day at this point. We'll have to continue to monitor him as we go through the week."

Goaltender Jacob Markstrom will make the start in goal.

More to come!

NEW GUY

Maxim Tsyplakov will make his Devils’ debut this evening. He didn’t have to travel far coming from Long Island. In fact, he traveled one hour to get to Prudential Center for his first morning skate with his new squad.

“It’s so close,” said Tsyplakov, who was acquired Tuesday night in exchange for forward Ondrej Palat. “It’s a good opportunity for me. I need to use this opportunity.”

Tsyplakov is a big, power forward at 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds. He also has great hands and a lot of skills. He potted 31 goals and 47 points with Spartak of the Kontinental Hockey League in 2023-24 before making the transition to the NHL.

Tsyplakov signed with the New York Islanders and has a strong first season with 10 goals and 35 points in 77 games. But this year he fell out of favor with the coaching staff, finding himself regularly healthy scratched. He has one goal and two points in 27 games, but is hoping a fresh start will turn his season around.

“The start of the season was tough for me, sometimes playing sometimes not,” he said. “If you look at last season I played well. I have more opportunity here to show what I can.”

The 27-year-old Russian will be skating on a line with Devils captain Nico Hischier and Arseny Gritsyuk.

"We're trying to give Tsyplakov a really good opportunity here," Keefe said. "He's excited for a fresh start."

“I hope we can play (well) together,” Tsyplakov said. “A lot of guys (on the team) are super skilled. I hope we can play (well).”

Tsyplakovc will add a strong physical element to that line, as well as a big body below the goal line and a solid net-front presence.

“I need to use my body and my skills around the net, play physical,” Tsyplakov said. “Do everything to get to the playoffs.”

"He's a big guy, he immediately comes in as our biggest forward in terms of size," Keefe said. "There's a skillset that goes with that. This season hasn't gone very well for him. If you look at his results last season, they were very good ... We're trying to tap into that, gets some traction and get him going to be a player for us."

THE SCOOP

The Devils are running out of runway if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. The club is nine points out of the final Wild Card spot and five points back from the final position in the Metro Division. What’s worse, there are four teams ahead in the Wild Card chase and two clubs in front of a Metro push.

New Jersey needs to string some wins together and fast. With four games remaining before the Olympic break, the Devils will likely need to win three of them just to keep pace.

The Devils will welcome newly acquired forward Maximum Tsyplakov from the New York Islanders. The team sent Ondrej Palat and two draft picks to Long Island to execute the trade. He will join the team for its morning skate.

The Devils’ special teams have really begun connecting. The power play has scored on five of its past nine chances while the PK has killed 15 straight. But the team still has trouble generating goals at 5v5.

After a sluggish start, the Nashville has clawed back into the playoff conversation. The club has 53 points, four back from the final Wild Card position.

Nashville is in the midst of a critical road trip through Boston, New Jersey, and NY Islanders. Following a 3-2 overtime loss in Boston, the Predators are looking to rebound against the Devils.

Center Steven Stamkos is off to a tremendous start to the season. After posting just 27 goals in 82 games last season, his first in Nashville, Stamkos has rebounded with 25 already on the current season through 52 games.

Center Ryan O’Reilly has found the fountain of youth. The 34-year-old has 51 points to pace the club. He’s two goals shy of his 10^th 20-goal campaign. Defenseman Roman Josi recently played in his 1,000^th career game and still has some offensive punch.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton is riding a nine-game point/assist streak into the contest. His run set a new franchise record for an assist streak for a defenseman, stopping Brian Rafalski (2006-07) and Barry Beck (1977-78). Hamilton has recorded a point in every game since returning to the lineup from being a healthy scratch.

Predators: Ryan O’Reilly has points in seven of his last eight games for 14 total (5g-9a). Included in that run was a hat trick and four-point night at Colorado and a two three-point games.

INJURIES

Devils:
Noesen (knee)
L.Hughes (shoulder)
McLaughlin (undisclosed)
MacEwen (upper body)

Predators:
Hague (lower-body)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Jan. 29 vs. Nashville
• March 26 at Nashville

GAME NOTES

• The Devils and Predators will face each other for the first time this season, and the only time in New Jersey
• Devils captain Nico Hischier recorded a hat trick last season against the Predators at Prudential Center on Nov. 25, 2024
• Rookie Arseny Gritsyuk has four points (1g-3a) in his last four games
• Jesper Bratt past Scott Gomez for fifth place in the franchise’s scoring list with 485 points. Kirk Muller ranks fourth with 520
• Nashville's Roman Josi played in his 1,000th career game on Jan. 22 vs. Ottawa. He has 199 career goals and is seeking No. 200