Devils Visit Lightning Before Week-Long Break | PREVIEW

New Jersey are in Tampa Bay to face the Lightning in their final game before the Bye-Week. 

You can watch on MSGSN2 or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

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

It's the final game for the Devils tonight ahead of their week-long break that dips into the All-Star Break. In Tampa Bay tonight, New Jersey will look to go out on a winning note. Just two weeks ago these two teams met in Tampa, the Devils clawing back from a deficit to take one point in overtime.

"You look back on that previous game, we had some really good missed opportunities that could have put the game away," head coach Lindy Ruff said, "We had the off-side goal taken away, so we really need to talk about finish and keep making plays when plays are there. Even more important, just make the right play.”

Ruff will be back behind the Devils bench tonight, having been held out of the third period against Carolina and off the ice from practice yesterday, as a precaution. Ruff took a puck to the head in the second period against the Hurricanes. 

“Feeling good, it was my turn to be in the shot lane, I took my turn,” Ruff joked, “I’ve been preaching that to players, so another blocked shot.”

The Devils will have at least one change coming to their lineup tonight, forward Erik Haula returned to New Jersey on Friday for the birth of his second child. 

Forward Justin Dowling, should be play against the Lightning will appear in his 100th NHL game. The 33-year-old has played 13 professional seasons between several clubs and could hit the milestone tonight.

"It tells you he’s a guy that loves playing the game,” Ruff said, “He’s still playing, still playing at a real effective level. I had him for a little bit when I was coaching in Dallas, so I was familiar with him. And (in Dallas) he got a couple of looks and a couple of opportunities, I think everywhere he’s been he gets that couple of looks and tries to make the most of it.”

There's one other milestone tonight: John Marino will play his 300th NHL game.

PREVIEW

DEVILS (24-19-3) vs. LIGHTNING (26-18-5)

Head-to-Head

The Devils and Lightning meet for the second time this season on Saturday night. The two clubs met just two weeks ago, also in Tampa, where the Lightning beat the Devils in overtime 4-3. Dawson Mercer, Jesper Bratt and Nathan Bastian all scored in the first of three games between the teams Tyler Raddysh had the overtime winner for the Lightning, Luke Glendening scored two in regulation and Brayden Point added his 20th goal of the year.

Saturday night marks the second of three meetings between the two teams, their final and only game in New Jersey to be held on Feb. 25.

Devils Team Scope:

The Devils will complete a two-game road trip with the stop in Tampa and also begin their week-long break heading into the All-Star Game. New Jersey arrived in Tampa from Carolina where the Devils lost to the Hurricanes, 3-2. Currently four points out of the second and final Wild Card spot (with two games in hand on Detroit who currently occupy the spot), the Devils are seeking out another win on Saturday night to stay in the hunt.

The club continues to deal with a plethora of injuries, managing a lineup filled with call-ups from the Utica Comets.

Forward Justin Dowling made his season debut with the Devils in Carolina, the 33-year-old scored against the Hurricanes for a first NHL tally since 2021, his last stint in the NHL. Called up alongside Dowling was defenseman Daniil Misyul who has practiced with the club, but has yet to make his NHL debut.

Lightning Team Scope:

The Lightning will take a two-game win streak into their game against the Devils on Saturday, after a win at home on Thursday against the Coyotes. Tampa Bay currently sits third in the Atlantic Division with 57 points, behind the Florida Panthers (64 pts) and the East-leading Boston Bruins (69 pts).

Forward Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with a whopping 83 points in 48 games, having already cracked 30 goals (32) and has 51 assists,. Brayden Point is second in Lightning points with his 52.

By the Numbers:

Kucherov has recorded three points in each of his last three home games at Amalie Arena.

Steven Stamkos registered his 1100th NHL point on Thursday night. As a Lightning lifer, he became the first player in club history to reach 1100 points.

Should Justin Dowling play against Tampa, it would mark his 100th career game.

Injuries:

Devils

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

Lightning:

Fleury (hand - IR)
Cernak (unknown)
Watson (unknown - IR)
Sergachev (lower-body, IR)
Jeannot (unknown - IR)