Devils Kick Off New Year in LA | PREVIEW

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (24-13-3) vs. LOS ANGELES KINGS (21-10-5)

New Jersey faces the Los Angeles Kings for a New Year's Day tilt. Puck drop is 6 p.m. ET.

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

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below. Tonight's game is presented by Donnelly Energy.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Devils did not hold a morning skate due to playing on back-to-back games. Head coach Sheldon Keefe addressed the media ahead of the contest against the Kings.

Lineup Changes

The only change in the lineup from Tuesday’s New Year’s Eve game in Anaheim is that forward Tomas Tatar returns in place of Kurtis MacDermid and goaltender Jake Allen will make the start.

More Work to Be Done

Keefe did not hold back following his team’s 3-2 loss against the Ducks, calling the performance “disgraceful.”

Keefe was asked about his comments and what he sees in his team currently.

“It was not that long ago we were playing at the top of our game and looking like it needs to,” Keefe said. “We need to get back to that mindset. It’s really about us at this point to get back at that rhythm.

“Disappointing but it is what it is. It’s a sign that we’re not where we need to be.”

Out the Break

The Devils were one of the hottest teams in the NHL heading into the holiday break. Since coming out of the break, the team’s performances hasn’t been at the same level, going 1-2-0.

“We said at the time that you almost don’t want the break because you’re just rolling,” Keefe said. “We’re trying to build something sustainable here, that night after night we take care of the game and never beat ourselves, all those sorts of things.
“We made huge steps in that regard and have gotten away from it since. It shows even a little disruption to our rhythm is enough to knock us off stride. And that’s not good enough.”

Keefe mentioned that the rush chances against have gotten too high and the Ducks were given “free offense” as one of the areas that needs cleaned up.

THE SCOOP

The Devils face the Kings after suffering a 3-2 loss in Anaheim the previous evening. New Jersey has started its current five-game road trip with losses in the opening two contests. The Devils were playing its best hockey heading into the holiday break, but has struggled to find its game coming out of the break.

Jesper Bratt leads the Devils in assists (33) and points (47). He’s on pace to set career highs in each category. Jack Hughes is close behind with 46 points on 15 goals and 31 assists. Captain Nico Hischier paces the club with 18 goals. The Devils have five players in double digits in goals. Goaltender Jake Allen will likely start against the Kings. He’s 5-6-1 on the year with a 2.89 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.

The Kings are in a tight race in the Pacific Division, currently sitting in the No. 2 spot behind Vegas. Los Angeles ended 2024 with back-to-back home wins against Edmonton (4-3 OT) and Philadelphia (5-4). Prior to those two games, the Kings completed a seven-game, 15-day road trip that saw the club go 3-2-2.

The Kings are led by future Hall of Famer Anze Kopitar. The 37-year-old leads the team with 27 assists and 39 points. The two-time Selke and Lady Byng winner is playing in his 19^th NHL season. Adrian Kempe paces the team with 17 goals. Goalies David Rittich and Darcy Kuemper have split the duties in goal with Kuemper putting up the better numbers on paper.

The Kings have been without former Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty all season as he recovers from a fractured ankle. He has begun skating, but is still some time away from a return.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Forward Stefan Noesen, who already has a career-high 16 goals on the year, has points in five of his last seven games with three goals and two assists.

Kings: Quinton Byfield, the No. 2-overall pick in 2020, has five goals and eight points in his past seven games. The 22-year-old scored the overtime winner against Edmonton as part of a two-goal, three-point effort.

INJURIES

Devils: Hatakka (shoulder, IR)

Kings: Moore (upper-body, IR), Lewis (lower-body, IR), Doughty (ankle, IR)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Dec. 12 vs. Los Angeles, 3-1 W
• Jan. 1 at Los Angeles

GAME NOTES

• The Devils and Kings meet for the second and final time this season, and only time in California.
• The Devils earned a 3-1 victory in the only previous matchup, Dec. 12 at New Jersey. Jack Hughes picked up three points in the contest with one goal and two assists. Hughes’ third-period goal with 7:02 left in regulation broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the game-winner. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 13 of 14 shots, including an Alex Turcotte penalty shot.
• The Kings have won seven straight home games. The contest against New Jersey is the third installment of a five-game homestand. They're 12-2-1 at Crypto.com Arena this season.