PRE-GAME STORY
RALEIGH, N.C. -The Devils are back in Carolina for the first time since their Second Round playoff exit last spring, taking on the Hurricanes in a 7:30 p.m. matchup.
Tonight is a critical matchup for both teams with the Metropolitan Division so intensely competitive. The Devils (51 pts) currently sit two points out of the final Wild Card spot, while the Hurricanes, who won last night against the Bruins in Boston, are second in the division with 57 points.
“We’re here to try and win, to take two points," Dawson Mercer, who moves to center tonight, shared, "All these points matter at the end of the year, we’re in the second half of the season, so it’s a big game for us. We’ll give it our all here tonight.”
Mercer will move to the added responsibility of playing center tonight, with Tyler Toffoli and Ondrej Palat on his wings. Tonight will mark the return of the 32-year-old veteran Palat, who has not played since Dec. 30 in Boston.
“Every time he’s in the lineup, it’s a big boost for us,” Mercer shared, “It’s great to have him back, especially with the situation we’re in with a lot of guys injured, whenever we can get anyone back it’s great. I’m happy to have him on my line.”
Call Ups
Forward Justin Dowling and defenseman Daniil Misyul were called up from the Utica Comets this morning. Both players arrived last night in Carolina and were on the ice for the morning skate. While it remains unclear if either will play on Thursday night, adding two more players to the roster is pivotal.
“We’ve seen where we’ve had players with illness, I don’t think you can afford to take a chance to not have an extra body at either position, especially as short as we’ve been running,” coach Lindy Ruff explained.
Dowling, who is in his 13th year of pro hockey, joins the team with 98 games of NHL experience, while this is Misyul's first NHL callup. This past September, Misyul participated in his first Devils Rookie/Training camp and took part in his first pre-season games. His play, Ruff recalled, stood out.
“I liked his game, I thought he really played the game on his toes, physical, surprisingly aggressive in a lot of places. He defended well. Your first look, he left a good impression,” Ruff said.
Lining Up
Nico Daws was in the starters net this morning, a good indication he will get the nod tonight against the Hurricanes. With two extra bodies in Dowling and Misyul, it remains unclear at the moment whether either will play tonight based on the morning skate rushes.
