Nemec has been used sparingly this season, playing only nine games and averaging 16:07 time-on-ice, down nearly four minutes from the 19:52 he averaged last season. The 20-year-old Slovak had 19 points (3G / 16A) in 60 games last season.
The Devils, winners of three of their last four (3-1-0), will return to Markstrom between the pipes after giving him the night off in their previous outing, a 3-0 shutout win for Jake Allen over the Edmonton Oilers. The 34-year-old Markstrom has turned his season around, allowing two or fewer goals in three straight (2-1-0) and posting a stellar .948 SV%, after a forgetful start where he allowed three or more in five of seven (3-3-1) and posted a .891 SV%. The Devils enter the action on Thursday as huge -308 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens club with a league-worst -18 goal differential through 13 games (4-7-2).
The Devils suffered a 3-0 loss to the Calgary Flames in their last outing and will switch from Jacob Markstrom to Jake Allen between the pipes for the first time in four games. Allen, sporting an ugly 3.25 GAA and .876 SV% in four games this season (2-1-1), has struggled in his last two contests (0-1-1), allowing 12 goals on 67 shots (.821 SV%). The Devils enter the action on Monday as -133 road favorites against an Edmonton Oilers club riding a two-game winning streak without Connor McDavid (lower-body) in their lineup.
MacDermid has been a healthy scratch the last two games but will re-enter the lineup on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old MacDermid has zero points, 10 penalty minutes, one block, and six hits while averaging 5:05 time-on-ice through three games this season.
The Devils have rolled with Markstrom during a two-game winning streak and will turn to him again on Friday night against the Calgary Flames. Markstrom struggled to start the season, allowing three or more goals in five of his first seven games (3-3-1), posting a .891 SV%, but has been incredible in his last two, boasting a superb .957 SV% in his last two (2-0-0). The Devils enter the action on Friday as -175 road favorites against a Flames team that has lost four straight.
Alexander Romanov (upper-body) will make his return from a three-game absence on Friday, sending Cholowski to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Cholowski was thrust into the lineup due to Romanov's injury and recording one point (1G / 0A) in three games.
Lazar underwent knee surgery to address an injury suffered on October 27th. The 29-year-old Lazar, in his second season with the Devils, was a lineup regular before the injury, registering two points (1G / 1A) and a monstrous 36 hits in 12 games. Justin Dowling drew into the Devils' lineup in their previous game to fill in for Lazar.
After being outscored 23-16 during a four-game losing streak, Markstrom saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday and will return to the crease to play consecutive games for the first time in nearly two weeks. The 34-year-old Markstrom has a 3.01 GAA and .895 SV% in eight games this season (4-3-1). The Devils enter the action on Wednesday as +108 road underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks.
MacDermid played the last two games for the Devils but will return to being a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 30-year-old MacDermid has zero points, 10 penalty minutes, one block, and six hits while averaging 5:05 time-on-ice through three games this season.
With news that Curtis Lazar (lower body) will miss some time, the Devils recalled Dowling from Utica (AHL) on Tuesday to make his season debut on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 34-year-old Dowling has primarily been an AHL player but is no stranger to the NHL, with 100 games of experience. He has four points (2G / 2A) in six games with Utica this season.
After being outscored 23-16 during a four-game losing streak, Markstrom saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday and will return to the crease to play consecutive games for the first time in nearly two weeks. The 34-year-old Markstrom has a 3.01 GAA and .895 SV% in eight games this season (4-3-1). The Devils enter the action on Wednesday as +108 road underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks.
Bastian will re-enter the lineup after sitting out each of the last two games as a healthy scratch. He skated alongside Justin Dowling and Tomas Tatar at practice on Tuesday. Bastian has two goals and two assists in ten games this season.
Returning from injury, Vilen will begin his 2024-25 campaign with the Utica Comets (AHL). The 21-year-old made his professional North American debut last season and tallied 29 points (2G / 27A) in 54 games with Utica.
With news that Curtis Lazar (lower body) will miss some time, the Devils have recalled Dowling from Utica (AHL). The 34-year-old Dowling has primarily been an AHL player but is no stranger to the NHL, with 100 games of experience. He has four points (2G / 2A) in six games with Utica this season.
Riding a four-game losing skid, the Devils will turn to Markstrom between the pipes for only the second time in their last four games. Markstrom has allowed 10 combined goals in his previous two outings, posting an ugly .821 SV%. That said, the Devils enter Sunday's contest as enormous -335 home favorites against an Anaheim Ducks club that has only scored 16 goals so far this season, the fewest in the league.
Bastian will be the odd-man out on Friday as the Devils opt to keep the lineup fresh for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Kurtis MacDermid will draw into the lineup in his place.
