BUFFALO, NY - The Devils are looking to start their seventh of 16 back-to-backs this season with a win in Buffalo. They face the Sabres for the second time this season, both on the road. The first meeting between the teams was on October 5th. The Sabres won 7-2.
This is the team's projected lineup for tonight's game:
Boqvist - Hischier - Palmieri
Coleman - Zajac - Gusev
Hall - Zacha - Bratt
Wood - Rooney - Simmonds
Greene - Severson
Vatanen - Subban
Butcher - Tennyson
Domingue
Blackwood
Jesper Boqvist joins the top line with Hischier and Palmieri.
"It's going to be fun, a lot of fun to play with these guys," said Boqvist. "Nico is really good both sides of the puck, same with Palms. I'm just going to have to have a good game."
Head Coach John Hynes credits Boqvist's development to gaining confidence throughout the start of the season.
"He was used in more situations, he earned more ice time, he was helping the team in different ways," said Hynes. "He was building his confidence in his game, prior to scoring the goal, because he played better and now he produced a little bit."
Boqvist scored his first two NHL career goals in back-to-back games, his first against Minnesota on the 26th and his second against Montreal on the 28th.
With tonight's game, Captain Andy Greene will tie Scott Niedermayer for seventh place on the Devils all-time games played list.
"Obviously he was one of the best and it's an honor to say I'm with him" said Greene. "You think wow, it's been a while but it's a lot of fun still."
Louie Domingue will get his third start for New Jersey tonight. Domingue is averaging 1.76 goals against.
Jack Hughes did not travel with the team to Buffalo. Hughes is day to day with a lower-body injury from a blocked shot in the team's November 28th game against Montreal.
John Hayden, Micro Mueller, Connor Carrick (injured) and Jack Hughes (injured) are all out tonight.
Tonight kicks off the Devils December schedule and the team's seventh of 16 back-to-backs.
Out of the Devils 16 back-to-back sets, New Jersey will play four sets this month, including two in the first week of December. Out of the 14 games this month, the team will play eight on the road.