Red Wings at Devils
The New Jersey Devils withstood the loss of their No. 1 center but could be without their top defenseman when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon. Nico Hischier is expected to return to the lineup following a two-game absence -- both wins -- but Sami Vatanen likely will not be available after he was hurt in Thursday's 3-0 win at Philadelphia.
There was no update on Vatanen as he was scheduled to see a doctor on Friday after crashing skates first into the end boards when he was upended by a stick. "You're not going to replace Sami Vatanen," fellow New Jersey defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. "Everybody has to play to their full potential." Detroit was on a tear before dropping the first of a two-game road trip at Ottawa 2-1 when it had a pair of penalty shots denied. The Red Wings had won four in a row and seven of their previous eight, including a 4-3 victory over the visiting Devils on Nov. 1.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, MSG-Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (8-9-2): Although he was turned away on a penalty shot, Michael Rasmussen accounted for Detroit's only offense to give him goals in back-to-back games and four tallies in his last eight contests. The 6-foot-6 Rasmussen deflected a shot by defenseman Mike Green on Thursday and had a shot carom off him for a goal against Arizona on Tuesday. “You just have to be strong,” Rasmussen said. “They push you out real hard so you just have to kind of bend your legs and be strong on your stick and make sure your stick is free. That’s the biggest thing, I think.”
ABOUT THE DEVILS (8-8-1): Hischier, who did not miss a game as a rookie last season after he was drafted No. 1 overall by New Jersey, was back at practice Friday for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury in Winnipeg on Sunday. "I've got to feel 100 percent to play, otherwise it's not worth it," Hischier said. "I've got to be ready when I play. I'll see how I feel tonight and tomorrow. I'll talk to the trainers and make a decision from there." Keith Kinkaid made 29 saves against the Flyers to record his third shutout, eclipsing his previous career high (2015-16).
OVERTIME
1. Devils C Travis Zajac has 10 points in his last 10 games, including a pair of assists against Detroit.
2. Red Wings F Justin Abdelkader and D Trevor Daley scored short-handed goals versus New Jersey earlier this month.
3. New Jersey is 6-1-1 at home.