Find out everything there is to know for when the New Jersey Devils host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, and fun Devils news away from the rink.
- New Jersey Devils (2-4-2, 6 pts)
- Arizona Coyotes (5-2-1, 11 pts)
- NHL, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, 7 p.m. ET, MSG+
- Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
NEWARK, NJ – Well, it looks like the New Jersey Devils will end the month of October with more wins than the New York Jets.
It wasn’t looking pretty for Jersey’s team after the Devils dropped the puck on 2019-20 with an 0-4-2 record. However, entering Friday night’s contest head coach John Hynes and company ride a two-game winning streak and are fresh off the team’s first shutout since last February.
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1186707045954793479
New Jersey hasn’t taken to the ice for a game since this past Saturday, but perhaps that was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Devils – a handful of days off to practice and regroup with their new-look roster.
The reality is that New Jersey probably needed some time to work on necessary adjustments, especially with all the speculation around their head coach’s status behind the bench. Hynes’ job appears to be safe for now and his squad hosts the Arizona Coyotes at the Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET; MSG+) for an out of conference showdown this Friday night.
While the power play has executed in back-to-back games, New Jersey’s man-advantage still sits in the basement of the league’s rankings as of Wednesday, Oct. 23 (29th). Still, fans should expect a few different wrinkles on the power play and its approach. Don’t be surprised to see Wayne Simmonds net his first goal in a Devils sweater, either.
See last tweet… https://t.co/UcMuGG3U8X
— ???? ??????? (@KMcKenna_NHL) October 19, 2019
No. 17 arguably played hist best game on the young season during the team’s 1-0 shutout victory over the Canucks last Saturday. Simmonds, 31, was moving at all cylinders and showed plenty of passion and emotion during the Saturday matinee.
The winger recorded a season-high six shots on goal, but was driving to the net without fear and was creating havoc in front of the opponent’s net in affective fashion. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time, often.
You heard it heard first – he’ll cash in Friday against Arizona.
How about the Devils opponents?
Yes, the Coyotes haven’t clinched a playoff berth since 2011-12, but the ‘Yotes are right in the mix of things this season and Arizona is no longer an “automatic” two points to collect.
As of Wed. Oct. 23, Arizona’s power-play ranked seventh in the league and its 15 goals allowed on the year is a league-best. The Yotes have solid goaltending, a strong veteran presence and a dynamic offensive attack which entails Phil Kessel, Nick Schmaltz and Christian Dvorak.
While the Devils power play will be a key to victory against the ‘Yotes, keep in mind that Arizona is the fifth-least penalized team in the league; so Jersey needs to take full advantage of its man-advantage when given the opportunity.
New Jersey enters the contest in search of its first three-game winning streak since Dec. 27-31 of 2018. Yes, it’s been a while…
Here’s what else took place this week in the land of Jersey’s team.
There was a Patrik Elias sighting earlier this week at the Rock, and you can bet that fans were excited to see the team’s all-time points leader in a coaching capacity (408g-617a-1025PTS).
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1186663485343752197
On Wednesday, Martin Brodeur was officially inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame … most people probably already thought this happened, no?
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1187066059133722625
Speaking of the Jets, defenseman P.K. Subban posted a stylish photo via Twitter with fiancé Lindsay Vonn at a New York Jets game, which hopefully wasn’t from Monday night’s New England Patriots vs. New York Jets debacle.
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1187031767322189824
The Devils were “the ones” that gave back this week after forward Blake Coleman visited the Boys and Girls Club.
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1187077436053381120
Kyle Palmieri Foundation was busy last Saturday for all the right reasons.
We had our first #Squad21 game of the season on Saturday & we were proud to host active duty military members & veterans, as well as @NPowerorg. NPower creates pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for veterans & young adults from underserved communities. pic.twitter.com/nygZ3NJVkn
— Kyle Palmieri Foundation (@KPalmieriFdn) October 22, 2019
