The New Jersey Devils took a tough loss to the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout on Monday night. Quinn Hughes took this edition of the "Hughes Bowl" in a game that New Jersey would like to forget quickly. It is good that they earned a point, but the team is floundering overall.
They have a chance to rebound in a big way on Wednesday night at the United Center against the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago is a lousy team having a tough season, and they have won once in their last eight games.
On December 14th, the Devils hosted the Blackhawks at Prudential Center and beat them 4-1. Now, they are looking to beat Chicago and complete the season sweep.
For the Blackhawks, their big name to keep an eye on is Connor Bedard. The 2023 number one pick has had his ups and downs to begin his NHL career but there is no doubt that he has the tools needed to be a superstar in this league.
New Jersey Devils fans know all about being patient with young number one picks as Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes had similar ups and downs early on. They are still learning too, which is the beauty of hockey.
Speaking of Hughes, he won't play in this game as he is done for the year, but Nico Hischier will return to the building in which he was drafted. In his career against the Blackhawks, Hischier has seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 11 games. He will be looking to extend his current point streak to 8 games in this one.
Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier are also players to keep an eye on in this one. New Jersey needs big production from them if they want to get out of their three-game slump.
Bratt has 11 points in 13 career games against Chicago. As for Meier, who played against the Blackhawks a lot with the San Jose Sharks, has 21 points in 19 career games against the Hawks.
New Jersey was good enough in the first half of the season where their current slide isn't endangering them of missing the playoffs but they have to get back to where they were if they want any chance in the first round against the Carolina Hurricanes (their likely opponent). It will be difficult without Jack Hughes.
One thing to look out for in this particular matchup is special teams. Both teams rank in the top ten for power play and penalty kill.
Chicago is at 81.7% on the kill, which is 9th in the league, and 25.5% on the power play, which is 8th. New Jersey is killing at an 82.6% rate, which is good for 4th in the league, and is at 27.4% on the power play, which is also 4th.
There is not really an excuse for the Devils here. Chicago gives up the second-most goals in the NHL and is tied for 26th in goals for. The Devils, who are one of the stingiest teams in the league (5th in goals against), should be able to shut down the Hawks' attack. New Jersey has struggled to score (they are 17th in the NHL in goals for), but the Hawks are a team that could allow them to break through.
No team in the league is easy to beat but the Blackhawks are where they are in the standings for a reason. Getting two points in this one would go a long way for the Devils in their quest to clinch a playoff berth for the second time in three years.