Chisholm played two straight games but will return to being a healthy scratch as Jon Merrill will draw back into Minnesota's lineup on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old Chisholm has one point (0G / 1A) and is averaging 14:15 time-on-ice through eight games this season.
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.
Jon Merrill will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, allowing Chisholm to slide back into the lineup. The 24-year-old Chisholm has played six games this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A) and averaging 14:41 time-on-ice.
On the opening night of a back-to-back, the Kings will turn to Rittich between the pipes. The 32-year-old Rittich started five straight games (3-2-0) before Darcy Kuemper returned from injury, posting a 3.09 GAA and .874 SV%. In his most recent outing, Rittich saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Rittich and the Kings will visit the Sharks in San Jose for a rematch on Tuesday, with the Kings entering the action as -288 road favorites.
On the opening night of a back-to-back, the Kings will likely turn to Rittich between the pipes. The 32-year-old Rittich started five straight games (3-2-0) before Darcy Kuemper returned from injury, posting a 3.09 GAA and .874 SV%. In his most recent outing, Rittich saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Rittich and the Kings will visit the Sharks in San Jose for a rematch on Tuesday, with the Kings entering the action as -288 road favorites.
After playing six straight game, Chisholm will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, replaced by Jon Merrill. The 24-year-old Chisholm recorded his first point of the season on Saturday, an assist in a 7-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
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.
Tufte has been limited to only 20 NHL games since being drafted 25th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old has excelled at the AHL level, most recently tallying 45 points (23G / 22A) in 67 games with the Colorado Eagles last season.
Pesce signed a six-year contract to join New Jersey in the offseason after nine successful seasons on Carolina's blueline and finally make his Devils debut on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, recording three shots in 17:33 time-on-ice. He was a game-time decision on Friday against the New York Islanders as the Devils considered easing him back into the lineup. In 70 games in 2023-24, Pesce had three goals, 13 points, 20 PIMs, and a +10 plus/minus while averaging 20:17 TOI/GP.
Hughes played his first game of the season on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings after suffering a shoulder injury in mid-September and recorded one assist in 15:11 time-on-ice. He was a game-time decision on Friday against the New York Islanders as the Devils considered easing him back into the lineup. In 2023-24, he had nine goals, 47 points, 135 SOG, 28 PIMs, and a -25 plus/minus in 82 games, finishing third place in voting for the Calder trophy.
Bjugstad suffered an upper-body in the preseason and has missed the first eight games of the season but will make his debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 32-year-old Bjugstad had a career-high 22 goals in 76 games last season.
Pesce signed a six-year contract to join New Jersey in the offseason after nine successful seasons on Carolina's blueline and finally make his Devils debut on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, recording three shots in 17:33 time-on-ice. He will be a game-time decision on Friday against the New York Islanders as he eases back into the lineup. In 70 games in 2023-24, Pesce had three goals, 13 points, 20 PIMs, and a +10 plus/minus while averaging 20:17 TOI/GP.
Hughes played his first game of the season on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings after suffering a shoulder injury in mid-September and recorded one assist in 15:11 time-on-ice. He will be a game-time decision on Friday against the New York Islanders as he is eased back into the lineup. In 2023-24, he had nine goals, 47 points, 135 SOG, 28 PIMs, and a -25 plus/minus in 82 games, finishing third place in voting for the Calder trophy.
The Devils acquired Jake Allen at the trade deadline last season and Jacob Markstrom in the offseason to solidify their goaltending after allowing the sixth most goals in 2023-24. That said, 10 games into the 2024-25 campaign, the Devils have allowed 33 goals, second most in the league. To the Devils' advantage, they enter action on Friday as -127 home favorites against a New York Islanders team that has only scored 14 goals this season, the fewest in the league. In three outings this season (2-1-0), Allen has a 3.01 GAA and .880 SV%.
With Darcy Kuemper (lower body) still sidelined, the Kings will roll with Rittich in the crease for the fifth straight game. Rittich has been serviceable in this stretch, winning two of four contests (2-2-0), but had a rough time in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, the Kings enter the action on Thursday as overwhelming -303 home favorites against the San Jose Sharks, the only team without a win this season (0-5-2).
With Darcy Kuemper (lower body) still sidelined, the Kings will roll with Rittich in the crease for the fifth straight game. Rittich has been serviceable in this stretch, winning two of four contests (2-2-0), but had a rough time in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, the Kings enter the action on Thursday as overwhelming -303 home favorites against the San Jose Sharks, the only team without a win this season (0-5-2).
Pesce signed a six-year contract to join New Jersey in the offseason after nine successful seasons on Carolina's blueline and will finally make his Devils debut on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. In 70 games in 2023-24, he had three goals, 13 points, 20 PIMs, and a +10 plus/minus while averaging 20:17 TOI/GP.
Hughes will play his first game of the season on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings after suffering a shoulder injury in mid-September. The sophomore defenseman will play a key role in the Devils' back end upon his return. In 2023-24, he had nine goals, 47 points, 135 SOG, 28 PIMs, and a -25 plus/minus in 82 games, finishing third place in voting for the Calder trophy.
Hughes was given a 6-8 week timeline to return from a shoulder injury suffered in mid-September during training camp and appears to be on schedule to return. If he is unable to play on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, Devils' head coach Sheldon Keefe insisted that Hughes should be in the lineup this weekend. The sophomore defenseman will play a key role in the Devils' back end. In 2023-24, he had nine goals, 47 points, 135 SOG, 28 PIMs, and a -25 plus/minus in 82 games, finishing third place in voting for the Calder trophy.
