Preview: Jackets, Devils eager to match wits in first meeting

GAME 28 DEVILS (15-7-4) AT BLUE JACKETS (17-9-1)
NATIONWIDE ARENA, 7 P.M., TUESDAY
TV: FOX SPORTS OHIO/FOX SPORTS GO
RADIO: 97.1 FM & BLUEJACKETS.COM
It's a matchup that's built in anticipation throughout the first quarter of the season.
The Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils, two of the youngest teams in the NHL, have each remained among the top teams in the Metropolitan Division and are ranked first (Columbus, 35 points) and third (New Jersey, 34 points).
Each has a top line centered by a teenager selected among the top three picks in the past two NHL Drafts. The Devils' Nico Hischier was taken No.1 overall this year, while the Jackets' Pierre-Luc Dubois was the third overall pick in 2016.
"When you look around the league, young players are able to come in, and they seem as though they're ready to play," Devils coach John Hynes said Monday at Nationwide Arena. "The way the league is now, with speed, [competitive drive], hockey sense, if you have those things you can play. You look at Columbus, and you look at us … boy, I think both groups are fortunate to have very good players who've shown they can step into the NHL and play, and compete, at a high level. It should be fun to see those guys work."

Columbus is 8-2-0 in its past 10 games, but coming off a 4-3 loss on the road Saturday to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena.
The Blue Jackets have their full assortment of forwards healthy again, and hope to string together more wins and points with division opponents beginning to show up on the schedule more often.
Columbus will face New Jersey a second time this week, in the finale of a home-and-home Friday at Prudential Center, and then play five more division games, including their first two against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.
Prior to games Monday, the Metro's top five teams were separated by five points.
"It doesn't let you get comfortable," said veteran forward Matt Calvert, who made his return Saturday in Washington, following a month-long absence with an upper-body injury. "There's teams that run away with it at the midway point, but you need to play all 82 and do well. It's a battle. You go in a slump, you could be down in that seven, eight, nine or 10-slot."
SERIES RECORD
2017-18 Season: (0-0-0). This is the first of four games. The Blue Jackets will host New Jersey again Feb. 10 and play two at Prudential Center on Friday and Feb. 20.
All-time: 15-12-2 overall; 9-6-0 at Nationwide Arena
SERIES SNAPSHOT
Last season: The Blue Jackets lost the series-opener at Nationwide Arena, but swept the next three, which were all played at Prudential Center.
Sergei Bobrovsky, who's expected to make his second straight start, played all four games for the Blue Jackets, going 3-1-0 with two shutouts, a 1.25 goals-against average and .958 save percentage. Cory Schneider, who will start for the Devils, played three of the four games (2.34 GAA, .912 save percentage).
Boone Jenner (three goals), Oliver Bjorkstrand (two goals, one assist) and Brandon Dubinsky (one goal, two assists) each had three points to lead Columbus. Adam Henrique, who was traded last week to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Sami Vatanen, led New Jersey with three points (one goal, two assists).
WHO'S HOT
Devils:Taylor Hall has six points (two goals, four assists) in the past five games, and Brian Boyle has three goals in the past five contests.
Blue Jackets: Dubois has six points (one goal, five assists) in a four-game point streak that's the longest of his NHL career, including two assists in each of the past two games; Artemi Panarin has scored a goal in each of the past two games.
EYES ON: THE DEVILS
EYES ON: THE BLUE JACKETS
QUOTABLES
Devils
"They're a really good team, and we're battling for first place right now in the division. It's going to be a good two games. It's going to be a really good test for us, especially, to see how we stack up against them. Everybody is looking forward to it." - Devils defenseman Will Butcher on the Blue Jackets
"We're just playing the right way, and everybody sticks to the game plan. That's why we are here right now, but we still know it's a long season to go. We've got to try and keep it up." - Devils center Nico Hischier, on New Jersey's strong rebound from last season
Blue Jackets
"We all get enamored by skill, but if the player's as dumb as a rock, you just don't know what's going to happen, no matter how much skill he has. So, that 'Hockey IQ' is very important, and they do a lot of work in trying to figure that out." - Tortorella on amateur scouts' role in finding intelligent players
"They've obviously been a bit of a surprise. They don't have a ton of big names. They've made a few moves, made a trade last week, but they're doing it. It's not just 10 games. They've done it now for 20-plus, so it's going to be a big matchup. We've got a home-and-home with them, and it's for the top of the division right now." - Calvert on the Devils
PROJECTED LINEUPS
DEVILS
Forwards
Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Jesper Bratt
Marcus Johansson - Travis Zajac - Drew Stafford
Brian Gibbons - Blake Coleman - Stefan Noesen
Miles Wood - Brian Boyle - Jimmy Hayes
Defensemen
Andy Greene - Sami Vatanen
John Moore - Damon Severson
Will Butcher - Ben Lovejoy
Goaltenders
Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid
Others:Dalton Prout, Steven Santini, Pavel Zacha
Injured reserve: Kyle Palmieri (right foot fracture), Mirco Mueller (fractured clavicle)
BLUE JACKETS
Forwards
Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Josh Anderson
Nick Foligno - Alexander Wennberg - Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Boone Jenner - Lukas Sedlak - Tyler Motte
Defensemen
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Jack Johnson - David Savard
Scott Harrington - Gabriel Carlsson
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Others:Markus Nutivaara (upper body), Markus Hannikainen
Injured reserve:Ryan Murray (upper body)