The New Jersey Devils have won a couple of games in a row, and a win over the reigning Eastern Conference Champions would be very sweet.
The Boston Bruins are once again one of the best teams in the National Hockey League. They are going to be in Newark tonight to take on the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have won two games in a row against two good teams in the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens so this is another big test for them. If they were able to defeat the defending Eastern Conference champions it would be yet another step in the right direction.
You know about the “perfection line” that Boston presents every night. The line consists of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak. The Devils might face the Bruins with that line in shambles as Patrice Bergeron is a game-time decision. If he plays that means that he is good to go so the Devils would need to be ready. They are called the perfection line because each member of the line is exactly what you would want on a top line. Bergeron is one of the best two-way forwards to ever live, Marchand is a super pest that is capable of scoring 100 points, and Pastrnak is one of the most skilled playmakers and shooters in the world.
Tuukka Rask is one of the best goalies in the world and will be their go-to guy once the playoffs roll around. Luckily for the Bruins, they have a backup that would be a number one on many teams in the league in Jaroslav Halak. During the regular season, they rotate every other game and it keeps them fresh. It is a luxury that all winning teams should have in today’s game. Halak played in their last game against the Washington Capitals so you can expect to see Rask in net for this tilt against the Devils.
The Devils have put Schneider on waivers for the purpose of sending him to the AHL’s Binghamton Devils, so MacKenzie Blackwood is almost certainly going to get the start for New Jersey. Louis Domingue was called up to the Devils for the first time this season since being acquired in a trade so he should be dressing up as the backup.
The key for the Devils is for the Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac lines to have success against the perfection line. If they shut them down, they still need to worry about players like David Krejci, Jake DeBrusk, and Charlie Coyle. They also have a top-flight defense with guys like Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Matt Grzelcyk. There is a reason that this team competes for the Stanley Cup year after year, they have a fantastic roster. It would be really cool to see New Jersey play well against these guys and get a win.