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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
Nemec was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. It's unclear if this is injury related or if Nemec is simply a healthy scratch.
The Devils will turn back to Markstrom between the pipes after Jake Allen got the nod against the Lightning on Tuesday. Markstrom struggled his last time out, surrendering six goals on 37 shots as New Jersey fell to the Capitals in overtime. The 35-year-old netminder owns a 3-2-1 record on the season to go along with a .902 SV% and a 2.99 GAA. The Devils are big road favourites in Detroit on Thursday, entering action at -180 on the money line.
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.
