The Devils open a two-game road trip in the state of Florida tonight against the Panthers.
You can watch the game on MSG+ or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Read our Pre-Game Report below plus videos, lineup updates and more.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
Devils Minute: Milestones in Florida
Devils Pre-Game Interviews:
McLeod
|
Severson
Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff
BY THE NUMBERS
Stats Comparison: Devils vs. Panthers
Media Game Notes: Devils vs. Panthers
Devils Player Statistics
Panthers Player Statistics
NHL Standings
RECENT VIDEOS
REPORT: Zetterlund Arrives
LEGACY LOUNGE: Mike Rupp 1-on-1
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
PROSPECT WATCH: Schmid's Gaudy Numbers Help Utica's Ridiculous Start
BLOG: Zetterlund Expected to Make NHL Debut
BLOG: Devils Key on 'Puck Management'
Bratt, Johnsson, Mercer jelling as a line
TV & RADIO
You can watch tonight's game within the Devils region on MSG+.
You can listen to tonight's game on the Devils Hockey Network.

INSIDE THE DEVILS

Keep up to date on the latest details from Devils practices and injury updates including the recall of Fabian Zetterlund, who will play his first career NHL game tonight.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE DEVILS BLOG

PRE-GAME STORY

SUNRISE, FL - After defeating the 10-1-1 Florida Panthers at Prudential Center several weeks ago by a convincing score of 7-3, the Devils have arguably a greater task ahead of them tonight. The Panthers are 8-0-0 at BB&T Center but will have to win their ninth without their captain and best player, Sasha Barkov after he was injured Tuesday against the Islanders.
"Barkov is a good player," said Devils head coach Lindy Ruff when asked about how his absence may affect the game. "He's proven that he's a guy that's involved in almost every aspect of their game from power play to penalty killing. Skates as well as any player on that team. Big loss. But when a team loses a guy, others will pick up the slack."
Damon Severson echoed the thoughts of his coach.
"They're missing their captain so hopefully we can take advantage of them missing their top player," he began. "He plays the game the right way. When he first joined the League, he got a lot of underrated comments but now everyone is seeing how good he is."
SEVERSON'S 500TH
In talking about when Barkov first joined the NHL, the conversation shifted to Severson's first season in the League. He will play his 500th career NHL game tonight, in a place where he scored his first career goal.
"We had a four-game road trip to start the season," Severson said. "First one in Philadelphia and second one here. Coming down here, I was able to get my first assist and first goal in the first period in the second game. It was pretty crazy and it kind of happened quick. Then I had a two-goal game in Washington at the end of the trip."
Severson reflected on that first season, noting that his defense partner for a lot of the year was Andy Greene, who ironically just played game 1000 earlier this week.
"It's funny seeing Greener getting to 1,000 the other night -- my first-ever D partner. I texted him and said, 'I'm halfway to you, got a long way to go,'" Severson remarked. "I definitely didn't think it was going to be easy. I was a confident, young player. I wanted to make the team and I was fortunate enough to be put into a good position with Greener.
"I learned a lot from guys like him."
ANOTHER MILESTONE
In addition to Game 500 for Severson, it's Game 100 for Michael McLeod. McLeod talked about reaching the 100-game mark.
"Working hard. There's ups and downs. You always try to work your way back to where you want to be. It took awhile to make it to the NHL to start. I'm pretty proud to reach this milestone."
A more offensive player in junior, McLeod has really honed in on being a defensive specialist since finding a regular role in New Jersey. He's excellent on the draw with a nearly 60% success rate and is a key penalty killer.
"I just carved more of a role for myself. That was the goal," he said. "I've been on the PK now, working on that. Face-offs are huge for me now. That wasn't the case when I entered the League. Being reliable in all three zones."
McLeod talked about his face-off prowess.
"Knowing you have to have different styles against different guys. Righties or lefties, studying and getting film on the iPad of the other team before the game. Being hard on pucks and good hand-eye.
"Every team needs a couple guys like that to take that role. Last year, playing on the fourth line we had some good looks in that role. Trying to lock it down at the end, taking that big face-off. We've got guys who can create offense and make plays all night and you need guys who can shut it down, too."
Coach Ruff acknowledged the importance of having a player in that role.
"Michael is just starting his career. He's really trying to hone part of his craft," Ruff noted. "Being good on face-offs, being a good penalty killer. You find your role and build off that."
READY FOR THE CHALLENGE
Projected lines for tonight's game based on Wednesday's practice and who stayed on the ice late after Morning Skate are:
Zacha - Hischier - Tatar
Johnsson - Mercer - Bratt
Sharangovich - Boqvist - Kuokkanen
Vesey - McLeod - Zetterlund
Graves - Hamilton
Smith - Severson
Siegenthaler - Subban
Ruff talked about the need for the Devils to lock it down defensively.
"We have to play well defensively. They have a lot of firepower. They have speed through the neutral zone and make a lot of good plays. Limiting the amount of chances we give them. Make sure they have to come through a lot of bodies on their way back."
The Panthers have also had some hot starts in recent games, most notably on Tuesday against the Islanders when they scored four in the opening frame on their way to a 6-1 win.
"The first thing I mentioned was their firepower. It's making sure we limit and do our job away from the puck. They're going to get chances. We're going to get ours. It's taking advantage of ours and trying to limit theirs," Ruff continued.
"They've got great team speed. They work hard, don't quit on pucks. The reason they have the record they do have is it's not just the offense. It's away from the puck they've been good, too."

PREVIEW

DEVILS (7-4-3) at PANTHERS (11-2-3)
TV:7:00 PM ET; Televised on MSG+
Head-to-Head
The Devils visit Florida in the second of three meetings this season. The two sides met back on November 9, with the Devils winning 7-3. Ty Smith had a goal and three points to lead the Devils while Andreas Johnsson scored twice. Owen Tippett had a goal and an assist for the Panthers.
Devils team scope:
New Jersey was initially scheduled to play this past Tuesday against Ottawa but the game was postponed as a result of a handful of Senators COVID-19 cases. The Devils are 3-1-2 in their last six games with an overtime and shootout loss in there. Most recently, the Devils fell 4-3 in a shootout this past Sunday to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden but it was a game where they tied it up late to salvage a point.
The Devils right now are a point behind the Flyers and Red Wings for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Panthers team scope:
Florida started the season on fire with a record of 8-0-0 and 10-0-1 before losing back-to-back games in regulation to the Rangers and Devils. They still only have two regulation losses all season long but went winless in four games (0-2-2) before hammering the New York Islanders 6-1 in their most recent contest.
It's expected Joe Thornton will return to the lineup tonight after missing his last nine games with an undisclosed injury.
By the Numbers:
Barkov leads the Panthers with 17 points in 15 games but his injury will keep him out of the lineup tonight. Jonathan Huberdeau is second with 15 points in 16 games followed by Anthony Duclair with 14 points in 16.
Sergei Bobrovsky has been solid with a 7-0-2 record, 1.78 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. That's quite a bit better than his ocunterpart, Spencer Knight. The 20-year-old netminder is 4-2-1 with a 3.28 goals-against average and .887 save percentage.
Injury Updates:
Devils
Jaros (hand)
Hughes (shoulder)
Wood (hip)
Thompson (upper body)
Panthers
Barkov (lower body)
Marchment (upper body)
Nutivaraa (undisclosed)
Juolevi (undisclosed)
Acciari (undisclosed)