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.
Macdermid will re-enter the lineup on Friday as the Devils opt to get some fresh bodies into the lineup for the tail-end of the back to back. Nathan Bastian will sit in his place.
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.
Misyul got his first taste of NHL action earlier this week, recording a -1 plus/minus in 12:23 time-on-ice, but will return to the Utica Comets (AHL). The 24-year-old Misyul was the 70th overall pick of the Devils in 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Misyul had 14 points (4G / 10A) in 44 games with Utica 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.
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.
