NEW JERSEY DEVILS (11-4-1) vs. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (8-5-3)

New Jersey open a five-game road trip with a stop in Chicago at United Center.

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MORNING SKATE RECAP

CHICAGO, IL - The Devils held a morning skate in Chicago ahead of facing the Blackhawks. All healthy skaters were on the ice for the session.

The skate featured a massive shakeup for the lineup. The Devils had the following look at skate…

The Devils Shuffle

The Devils made swaps on their top two lines with Dawson Mercer joining Jack Hughes and Arseny Gritsyuk while Jesper Bratt teams up with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier.

“We’re very dangerous on the rush,” Mercer said, “but we want to make sure we create some O zone time and create those secondary opportunities where you may get some greasier goals.”

“It boosts you up to get new linemate even if they aren’t very new, they’re very familiar,” Bratt said. “It would be good to help the team give a quick little boost.”

The switch was made because the two lines have seen a sink in their play in both scoring and controlling play.

“It’s been too long now that both those lines haven’t really connected offensively,” Keefe said. “I think it’s time. A little bit of a different look for us.”

On the Road Again

The Devils are beginning a five-game road trip this evening against Chicago. Their previous four-game road trip ended with the club going 1-3-0.

“We feel being a great road team would be a huge step up for us,” Mercer said. “We’ve been amazing at home. After our last trip we want to end on a more positive note. Right now we have a great opportunity, five games here to really prove that and turn the switch.”

“We didn’t like the way our last road trip went,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It is a five-game stand on the road. We have to play better on the road. It’s a good opportunity for us to get that right.”

Chi-Town

The Devils are facing a young a dangerous Chicago Blackhawks team, which is of course centered around the emergence of former No. 1-overall pick Connor Bedard. Their 8-5-3 start has them in the playoff mix early in the season.

“Lots of speed and skill,” Keefe said. “Bedard is playing on another level right now. We don’t need to many reminders. It wasn’t too long ago that we played San Jose and Anaheim, all these young guys taking significant leaps as far as their quality of play.

“It’s a real challenge, but also their defense is very young but has taken a step. They have lots of confidence. It’s a challenge like every single game this season and we’ll have to be ready.”

THE SCOOP

The Devils begin a five-game road trip, split into two legs. After concluding their three-game homestand with a 3-0-1 record, New Jersey hit the road for the next two weeks. They'll make stops in Chicago, Washington, both teams in Florida and finishing off with a tilt in Philadelphia. The road trip will be split in two, with the team returning to New Jersey after the Washington game for some time and practice at home.

New Jersey is coming off their first loss at home this season, a 4-3 overtime final to the New York Islanders. Their home record now stands at a league-best 7-0-1, not yet defeated in regulation on home ice. The club picked up 5 of a possible six points over the stretch, leaving them, at time of publication, atop the Eastern Conference standings with 23 points.

The Chicago Blackhawks have turned a bit of a corner on their quest to rebuild their roster. Under the guidance of new head coach Dan Bylsma, 2023 first overall pick Connor Bedard is having himself a great start to the season. He has 25 points in 16 games (9g-16a) for his best start in his young career. Only four times this season has Bedard been held off the scoresheet.

The Blackhawks have mostly depended on 2025 trade deadline acquisition Spencer Knight in net, who is off to a great start as well. He has a 6-3-2 record, a 2.33 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Timo Meier is beginning to pick up some steam again. He has two goals in his last three games, including a power play marker against the Islanders and four points in his last five games.

Blackhawks: Connor Bedard is on a stretch of points in eight straight games, including 11 points in his last five games played.

INJURIES

Devils:
Hamilton (undisclosed)
Brown (undisclosed)
Pesce (upper-body)
Dadonov (hand)
Kovacevic (knee)
McLaughlin (undisclosed)

Blackhawks:

Nazar (undisclosed, day-to-day)
Dickinson (shoulder, IR)
Weber (IR)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Nov. 12 at Chicago
• Mar. 29 vs. Chicago

GAME NOTES

• The Devils' six-game winning streak against Chicago is tied for the franchise's longest against the Blackhawks (Last: Dec. 9, 1999 to Nov. 2, 2002). It is the Devils' longest active winning streak against an opponent.
• The Devils are 11/12 (91.7%) over their last six games on the penalty kill since Oct. 30, 2025.