MORNING SKATE RECAP
The Devils held a morning skate on Wednesday ahead of facing the Washington Capitals. New Jersey is coming off a 3-0 setback to Montreal Tuesday night.
It appears the Devils will have a pretty loaded lineup for the contest, featuring Jack Hughes and Timo Meier making their preseason debuts with the club.
Erik Haula did skate with the group but is still just ramping up his work as he's recovered from an illness.
The Devils used the following workflow…
Meier – Hughes – Bratt
Tatar – Hischier – Mercer
Palat – Haula – Noesen
MacDermid – Engaras – Stillman
Dillon – Hamilton
White – DeSimone
Misyul – Welinski
Markstrom
Allen
Meanwhile, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network is reporting that the Capitals lines looked like this…
Ovechkin – Strome – Mangiapane
Duhaime – Dowd – Raddysh
Brana – Sgarbossa – Limoges
Suzdalev – Sutter – Trineyev
Chychrun – Carlson
Alexeyev – van Riemsdyk
Massie – McIlrath
Thompson
Gibson
First Taste
Forward Timo Meier had a tough off-season. He underwent shoulder surgery and rehabbed all summer. Due to that, he’s been held out of the lineup in the Devils’ opening two preseason games. He will see his first game action of the preseason against the Capitals.
“It’s definitely nice to get out there in game action (after) watching the first two preseason games,” Meier said. “You have to make the most out of every practice and every preseason game you get. It’s nice to have a lot of veteran guys in the lineup to put on a display and work the things we’ve done in practice, the systems. It goes quick and then it’s already Oct. 4 and you’re starting the season.”
Forward Dawson Mercer was a late camp arrival and will also be playing in his first game this evening.
“When you get through the first few days and activities I missed out on, I had a bit of catching up,” he said. “I’m happy to be in the lineup tonight.”
Reunited
Mercer worked the morning skate with Tomas Tatar and captain Nico Hischier. The trio skated together a lot two years ago when the Devils broke several team and individual records.
“It’s great to be out there,” Mercer said. “You wouldn’t say Tats wasn’t here last year. He feels at home. He’s happy to be back and we’re happy to have him here. To be playing with him and Nico tonight and really good, it’s really familiar.”
