5. Devils vs. Avalanche — Prudential Center — Feb. 6, 2024
Don’t let last year’s step back distract you from the fact that the Colorado Avalanche will be right there with the Devils in Cup contention for plenty of years to come. In fact, ESPN positioned the Devils second and the Avalanche third in their ‘Way-Too-Early Power Rankings‘ for the 2023-24 season. This should be a great matchup and test for the Devils, who have this night scheduled as the first game back after their nine-day All-Star break.
More importantly, this game is expected to be Miles Wood’s return to Prudential Center after over 400 games in a Devils uniform and 10 years in the organization. Wood and the Devils officially parted ways on July 1, when the 27-year-old signed a six-year deal with Colorado as an unrestricted free agent.
Anticipate number 28 in white to be welcomed back to the Rock with a video tribute and standing ovation from Devils faithful on February 6th.
4. Devils vs. Rangers — Prudential Center — Nov. 18, 2023
No explanation is ever necessary for why fans should be excited about a Hudson River Rivalry matchup. This particular game should have that extra spark to it, though. For starters, it’ll be the first Devils-Rangers clash since the Devils’ Game 7 win in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Interestingly, it’s also the first time the Devils have hosted the Rangers to start a season series since 2019. Oct.17, 2019, to be exact — the night Jack Hughes tallied his first career point (assist on Miles Wood’s goal) en route to a 5-2 victory.
This game being on a Saturday night only adds to the hype it should bring. Expect the Rock to be bumping on Nov. 18th.
3. Devils @ Canucks — Rogers Arena — Dec. 5, 2023
Dec. 5 has the potential to be very special — all three Hughes brothers could share the same sheet of NHL ice for the first time in their careers.
So far in the Devils-Canucks ‘Hughes brother rivalry era,’ Jack has won five of the six games against brother Quinn, potting 10 points, including his first career goal. The saga is expected to continue with Luke added to the mix for New Jersey.
This game is marked on our calendar, and it’s surely marked on parents Jim and Ellen’s somewhere in Michigan.
2. Devils vs. Red Wings — Prudential Center — Oct. 12, 2023
October 15, 2022. Devils vs. Red Wings. The home opener of the Devils’ historic 2022-23 campaign. A night that ended in complete panic for fans as they relentlessly booed the team off the ice and called for the job of head coach Lindy Ruff, whose system looked completely flat in an 0-2 start to the season.
Nearly one year later, Ruff, now a reigning Jack Adams finalist, will receive a warm welcome back behind the bench for the 2023 opener with those same Detroit Red Wings on the other side of the ice at Prudential Center. His team will look to write the start of the script on a positive note this time around.
1. Devils vs. Flyers — MetLife Stadium — Feb. 24, 2024
Nothing builds anticipation for a regular season game quite like an outdoor game. The Devils haven’t had the opportunity to participate in one since the 2014 Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium, a 7-3 loss to the hometown New York Rangers.
A decade later, over 75,000 fans will be able to invade MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, a city the Devils franchise called home for 25 years. New Jersey, as hosts of the event, will look to defend ‘home ice’ against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. The Rangers and Islanders will face off on Sunday in the second half of the first-ever double-header Stadium Series weekend.
The legendary Doc Emerick said it best — “we all have a wonderful experience ahead of us.”