Devils and Blue Jackets Wrap Season Series Friday Night | PREVIEW

New Jersey are in Columbus on Friday night for a quick trip to visit the Blue Jackets. The Devils begin their 10th set of back-to-back games this season, with puck drop just after 7 p.m.

You can watch on MSG or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below.

PRE-GAME STORY

COLUMBUS, OH - As the Devils roster has seen so many changes in the lineup, the type of play the club has had to adjust to is quite different than the one the club started the season with. Every game, as players come in and out of the lineup, adjustments have had to be made as both a group and individuals. Particularly when it comes to the recent losses to defensive personnel, adjusting does take time.

"Every game has sort of been a constant evolution, you lose another defenseman and you start playing two right-handed D together." head coach Lindy Ruff shared, "There are plays obviously when you’re going up the left-hand wall and you’re a right-hander that you’ve got to make some adjustments for. In breakouts you’re going backhand, we’re looking at the type of puck support he’s going to need. Every game we’re trying to teach and trying to learn and trying to advance.”

With an optional morning skate, 14 players hit the ice in Columbus: Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Alexander Holtz, Nathan Bastian, Max Willman, Dawson Mercer, Erik Haula, Simon Nemec, Cal Foote, Kevin Bahl, Chris Tierney, Santeri Hatakka and goaltenders Nico Daws and Vitek Vanecek.

Curtis Lazar who did not skate on Thursday and did not take the optional practice this morning is expected to play against Columbus.

Weighing the Situation

Tyler Toffoli started off his season at a roaring pace and in recent times his 5-on-5 play has slowed down. Although Ruff would like to see more from his veteran player at even strength, where he has been a bright spot is on the man advantage with the first power play unit.

"There has been struggles, obviously, but you look at the type of team we are, it’s different than at the beginning when he didn’t struggle, you’ve got to weigh where I’m playing him, who I’m playing him with, all that has changed," Ruff said, asked about Toffoli's play. "I look at his power play plays, some of the plays he makes, the play he made to Nico (Hischier), the point-blank where he didn’t score, he’s been a big reason why I think our power play has been better. His intelligence on the power play is at a peak level.”

When gauging how a player is performing, Ruff shared, you also have to weigh the circumstances, especially when you're comparing what have been two very different scenarios to start the season. The players Toffoli is lined up with are different and the style is different. 

"The style has to change for all the players,” Ruff said, “You look at some of the opportunities, he’s had some good looks that he hasn’t taken advantage of, I don't think right now he’ll get as many looks, so you just have to weigh everything.”

PREVIEW

DEVILS (22-17-3) vs. BLUE JACKETS (14-21-9)

Head-to-Head

This is the fourth and final meeting between the Blue Jackets and Devils this season. The last time the two teams met was just after the holiday break on Dec. 27 in Newark. The Devils hold the 2-1-0 record over the season series, after a win in their last game, 4-3, and a victory in Columbus on Dec. 16, 6-3, during the Devils Fathers and Mentors trip. 

Timo Meier scored the overtime winner in the last game between the clubs, while Jack Hughes, who remains out of the Devils lineup, had a hat trick the last time the teams met in Columbus. 

Both Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid have picked up wins this season against Columbus, Schmid having started two of the three previous games. Nico Daws, currently on the NHL roster, has yet to face Columbus this season.

Devils Team Scope:

The Devils are coming off a loss to the Canadiens where the sting lingers after clawing out from down 2-0 to tie the game, only to concede the lead with five minutes to play. The loss left the Devils in sixth in the Wild Card race with 47 points, two points behind Tampa for the second Wild Card spot, and also with two games in hand. 

After a stretch of five games without scoring a power play goal, the man-advantage broke through with two against the Canadiens, the only two goals New Jersey would score against the Habs. 

Brendan Smith is the latest player to go down with an injury, missing Wednesday night's game with a sprained knee. His injury will keep him out of the lineup for a while, placed on the Injured Reserve list on Thursday. 

Defenseman Santeri Hatakka was recalled from Utica on Thursday and is an option to play against the Blue Jackets as the Devils try and find some balance between their left and right-handed shot defensemen. 

Blue Jackets Team Scope:

Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner is expected to return to Columbus’ lineup on Friday night. He has been out of the lineup since Dec. 8 with a jaw injury that required his jaw to be wired shut. 

The Jackets are well rested, having not played since Monday when they beat the Vancouver Canucks in the shootout and have not been on the road since Jan. 9. Between Jan. 9 and Friday’s game against the Devils, Columbus will have played just three games.

On Thursday the Blue Jackets made several roster moves, loaning defenseman David Jiricek to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland and placing goaltender Spencer Martin on waivers, with the intention of assigning him to Cleveland if he clears. 

By the Numbers:

With Brendan Smith missing the last Devils game, New Jersey has now hit 137 man-games missed to injury this season. Tomas Nosek has missed the most amount of games (36) dealing with a foot injury. 

Santeri Hatakka has played in 9 NHL games in his career, all with San Jose at the tail end of the 2021-22 season.

Injuries:

Devils

Hamilton (pectoral muscle - IR) 
Nosek (foot - IR)
Palat (lower body)
Smith (sprained knee - IR)
J. Hughes (upper-body - week-to-week)
Siegenthaler (broken foot - IR)

Blue Jackets

Blankenburk (upper body - IR)
Werenski (ankle - IR)
Laine (Collarbone - IR)
Jenner (Jaw - IR)