Devils at Red Wings
The shine has worn off from a bright start to the season for the New Jersey Devils and it was no more evident than Tuesday, when they turned a two-goal lead into a humbling 8-3 loss at Tampa Bay. The Devils will try to find the form that led to a 4-0-0 run to open the campaign when they visit the rejuvenated Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night for the second contest of a season-long seven-game trip.
“Everyone in this room knows what we need to do. It’s a mindset,” New Jersey center Nico Hischier told NJ Advance Media. “Everyone has a job here and should know that. … We’re not a team that can come out there and play 80 percent. We have to play 100 percent to be able to beat (the top) teams.” The Devils are 1-3-1 while allowing 24 goals in the last five games and the Red Wings are trying to continue in the other direction with three wins in the last five contests after opening the season with seven consecutive losses. Dylan Larkin scored twice and set up another goal in Tuesday’s 5-3 victory at Columbus and owns five of his team-leading 12 points in the past two games. “He’s been tremendous for us this year,” Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard told the Detroit Free Press. “He’s one of our best players night in and night out. He’s been flying, creating a lot of havoc in the offensive zone and been really responsible in the defensive zone. He’s made so many strides.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE DEVILS (5-3-1): Cory Schneider made his 2018-19 NHL debut Tuesday following a rehab assignment because a hip injury, stopping five of six shots when Keith Kinkaid was pulled for the first time this season after playing every minute. Right wing Kyle Palmieri has nine goals in nine games to lead the team after scoring on the power play Tuesday and linemate Taylor Hall extended his point streak to eight games with an assist. Miles Wood scored his first goal of the season Tuesday and fellow forward Marcus Johansson returned to the lineup after missing one game because of illness.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (3-7-2): Detroit was missing forwards Frans Nielsen and Andreas Athanasiou because of undisclosed injuries Tuesday and lost another in the win over Columbus as veteran Thomas Vanek (lower-body) is lost for 2-to-3 weeks. Michael Rasmussen, a 19-year-old forward selected ninth overall in the 2017 draft, celebrated his 10th game in the NHL on Tuesday with his first goal. Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha have scored in back-to-back contests while fellow forward Gustav Nyquist owns assists in the last two games to place second on the team with nine points.
OVERTIME
1. Red Wings G Jimmy Howard boasts a .934 save percentage over the last five games, but managed only two wins.
2. The Devils are in the top 10 on the power play (26.3 percent, eighth) and penalty kill (83.3, ninth).
3. New Jersey won two of the three matchups last season, including a 4-3 overtime decision last November in Detroit.