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