New Jersey Devils: 5 Games We’re Most Excited For This Season
In anticipation of the season starting, it’s always fun to take a look at the New Jersey Devils‘ schedule and point out which games are going to be the most anticipated. These games can get us excited for a variety of reasons. Many are singled out and set aside nonetheless with excitement and fervor that only a fan can create.
There were several things taken into account when deciding on just five games out of eighty-two. The most obvious factor of all is that anticipation level that comes with a certain game. It has to jump out at you when reviewing the schedule.
The next most important factor is a rivalry. The team New Jersey is playing being a rival enhances the excitement of the game more than any other one.
The last factor used to consider these games is the test that particular game will be for the Devils. It has to be a game that will push this team and show us what they may be capable of as the year runs on. Here are the five games that we are excited about the most this year.
Opening night: Friday, October 4th vs. Winnipeg
The most obvious one on the list. The Devils open up their season at home against a very good Winnipeg Jets team. Not the easiest team to open up against. They could have been slated to face anyone and opening night would have made the list because of all the changes this team has undergone from one year ago.
We will finally see our MVP Taylor Hall play again, will he be rusty or get right back to his MVP form? We’ll finally get to see our number-one overall pick Jack Hughes play in a regular-season NHL game. The biggest acquisition of the offseason was P.K. Subban and we’ll get to see him man the blue line for us for the first time.
Who could forget about NIkita Gusev either? The next biggest acquisition for the Devils will begin to answer whether or not his game can translate to the NHL. The Rock is going to be out of this world, electric for this game because of all the excitement surrounding this team that it may not matter how good of a team Winnipeg is, the Devils will be so fired up for this game it won’t matter. There is truly no shortage of storylines for this one and we can’t wait.
Prediction: New Jersey 4 Winnipeg 1
Thursday, October 17th vs Rangers
We won’t have to wait long into the season to get our first taste of the Hudson River Rivalry re-ignited. This will be the first regular-season meeting between the top overall picks in the 2019 NHL Draft in Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko.
This will also be the first time that fellow Russians Artemi Panarin and Nikita Gusev will go head to head in an NHL game. We already know what Panarin can bring, but it’ll be a great comparison to see how Gusev stacks up against an elite player.
You can see it now, the Devils and Rangers slugging it out like the old days, the crowd booing Kaako every time he touches the puck and cheering Hughes with every chance. This will be the first meeting of the year where our fanbases can say who had a better off-season. Both clubs have made substantial changes and it will be great to see these two, long-time rivals, going head to head again with great players on both sides.
A major part of this game that may not get much talk prior to it will be the goaltending matchup. The Devils know who they will be facing in Henrik Lundqvist, but the Devils could have either MacKenzie Blackwood or Cory Schneider in net. Whoever it may be on this night, they will have to be at their best. When playing in a rivalry game there is no shortage of intensity and when dealing in a game like this it all ends up falling squarely on the goalie and the Devils goaltending will have to be sound in order to pull out the victory.
Prediction: New Jersey 3 Rangers 2 (F/SO)
Wednesday, October 30th vs. Tampa Bay
The third game in a month but hear us out. Tampa Bay is still the benchmark in the league when it comes to overall talent. This isn’t to say what happened to them in the playoffs was a fluke, but they are going to be a highly motivated team this year and it’ll be a great measuring stick for the Devils to see how they can keep up with a team of Tampa’s caliber.
A team with the LIghtning’s firepower will test our defense and goaltending for the entirety of the game. If we can keep pace with them it will say a lot about what our team is made of, especially since it’s so early on in the season. It will be a huge mental test for the Devils. The Devils will still be trying to find their identity at this point in the year so it’s imperative that they play smart and stay out of the penalty box. The Lightning will look to be a formidable force on the power play once again just as they were a year ago and for a young team like New Jersey, they simply can not give the Lightning opportunity to put them away.
Prediction: New Jersey 2 Tampa Bay 4 (empty netter for the fourth goal)
Thursday, November 7th @ Calgary
The Flames were 26-10-5 at home last year and they were tied for second with 3.52 goals for/game. This game takes place in the middle of the Devils trip out to western Canada and the Saddledome will be the hardest place they have played during it.
A game much like that of the one with the Lightning, this one represents how the Devils will be able to combat a game on the road in a hostile environment. For a young team like New Jersey, a tough test on the road can go a long way in what they are trying to build for the future. Tough challenges on the road put more pressure on goaltending and no matter who may be in net on this particular night, either MacKenzie Blackwood or Cory Schneider, will have to stand tall to pull this one out.
The Flames had five separate players amass more than 70 points last year, the Devils didn’t have any over 50, this team is very potent offensively. With all that firepower it will be a great test for New Jersey and how they respond to it. Expect to see P.K. Subban and the rest of the Devils defense being very active in this game and look for Will Butcher to take some chances with the puck to create opportunities of their own.
Prediction: New Jersey 4 Calgary 3
Thursday, January 9th @ Rangers
Back so soon? Taking into account all the moves both of these teams made this offseason its no surprise the Rangers made the list again. This time it takes place at Madison Square Garden and the rivalry takes on a different form on the big stage of New York City.
It will be interesting to see how Jack Hughes handles the first game at the Garden and how he goes head to head with Kaako. At this point in the season, it’s fair to say we will have a good idea of where both of these teams are heading and the environment at MSG should be electric.
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The Rangers fans will surely have some choice words for all of our new additions, but that’s what makes games at MSG so great. This kind of game will show us where the Devils are headed and it could be positive if we are able to handle the road crowd well enough to pull the game out in our favor. A player of the caliber of Taylor Hall doesn’t need a game like this to gain experience but players like Jack Hughes and Nikita Gusev certainly do. Playing on the road on a big stage against your biggest rival will show Devil’s fans what our next crop of talent is able to withstand. This is the game to look forward to the most because its where Jack Hughes is going to silence the entire Garden.
Prediction: New Jersey 5 Rangers 4 (F/OT) Game winner from Jack Hughes