The New Jersey Devils host the Buffalo Sabres at The Rock for a Friday night clash in hopes of remaining undefeated during this six-game homestand.
- New Jersey Devils (22-9-5, 49 pts)
- Buffalo Sabres (9-20-8, 26 pts)
- NHL, East, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, 7 p.m.
ET, MSG+ - Prudential Center Newark, NJ
The New Jersey Devils are coming off their weakest game of the homestand, even though it resulted in a win. The club defeated the Red Wings 3-1 behind two goals from phenom Nico Hischier.
Buffalo comes into this one struggling mightily. Buffalo has won just one of its last five contests and basically have only three threats on offense.
Buffalo is led by Evander Kane, Jack Eichel, and Ryan O’ Reilly. Those are the only three Sabres with above 20 points on the season.
Active/Inactive
The Devils stayed healthy last game, so we can expect the same lineup we saw in the last game against Detroit.
One other quick roster note: Dalton Prout was waived yesterday and cleared waivers. He is now a member of the Binghamton Devils.
#NJDevils coach John Hynes confirms same lineup tonight with Cory Schneider in net. So Fs Jimmy Hayes, Drew Stafford and D Ben Lovejoy remain healthy scratches.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) December 29, 2017
Buffalo is using the same lines they used a few nights ago in their loss to the Islanders.
Sabres’ lines:
Girgensons-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-O’Reilly-Okposo
Pouliot-Rodrigues-Pominville
Larsson-Josefson-Nolan
Wilson extra— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) December 27, 2017
It looks like Cory Schneider will be in net once again and Robin Lehner will be between the pipes for Buffalo.
The Devils snuck past Detroit with one of their first performances of the season. Both of these teams are in “look-ahead” spots with Buffalo playing the Winter Classic on Monday and the Devils playing against the team chasing right at their heels in Washington tomorrow night.
The Devils are on one of their hottest stretches of the year, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Contrastly, Buffalo isn’t as hot. They are 3-3-4 over its last 10.
Other Devils News, Stories:
- ESNY’s Chris Kowalchuk writes about Brian Boyle and how he’d led the way for these 2017-18 New Jersey Devils.
- A look at the post-Christmas break week ahead.
- ESNY’s player profile of young Nico Hischier.
- Andrew Gross of North Jersey gives us five reasons the Devs have won five straight.
Let @AmandaCStein and @MattLoug tell you why Cory Schneider (making his 8th straight start) and Captain Andy Greene are the players to watch during #BUvsNJD. pic.twitter.com/eQID8ePnZa
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 29, 2017
