Devils Meet Leafs in Home-and-Home | PREVIEW

New Jersey hosts Toronto for the first game of a home-and-home series at Prudential Center. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.

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

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below, presented by Eleven Sports Media.

PRE-GAME STORY

NEWARK, NJ - The Devils held morning skate on Tuesday ahead of hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Defenseman John Marino (upper-body) was back on the ice after missing the past two games. Center Jack Hughes will not play tonight due to an upper-body injury. 

The Devils used the following workflow…

Bowers – Hischier – Bratt
Meier – Haula – Holtz
Palat – Nosek – Mercer
MacDermid / Halonen – Tierney – Foote

Hughes – Marino
Bahl – Smith
Siegenthaler – Nemec – DeSimone

Allen in the starting net.

The Devils recalled goalie Akira Schmid from Utica of the American Hockey League this morning. He joined the team for morning skate.

Johnny Be Good

Marino is excited to be back in the lineup after missing the last two games and six of the past 13 contests with injuries.

“It’s been good. A couple pre-existing injuries. Having a chance to get healthier and finish out the season,” Marino said.

With four games remaining, Marino wants to end the season on a positive.

“You want to finish out the season strong regardless of what happens,” Marino said. “We have four games here. They’re important games against really good teams.”

Best Foote Forward

Forward Nolan Foote has missed the entire regular season with various injuries this year. After a long and arduous path, he’s expected to make his return and season debut tonight.

“It’s been a tough year. I’m excited to play," Foote said. "I’ve been rehabbing for a long time, trying to get back. I know there’s four games left but I just want to get in and show my game. I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements even being out. I’m excited.”

“It’s been a long year for him. Whenever you see a player battling to get back in the lineup, it’s not easy mentally to go through that for the course of the season," Green said. "It’ll be good to have him back in the lineup and get a good look at him here.”

Despite missing so much time, Foote expects a quick adjustment.

“I just have to get going the first shift and then it’ll come back,” Foote said.

Scouting the Leafs

Toronto is one of the best teams in the NHL and boasts the third-best offense in the league, tallying 3.61 goals per game. They have a crop of dynamic talents, highlight Auston Matthews and his league-leading 65 goals on the year.

Hischier: “Where’s he at? 65? That’s a lot of goals. It’s hard to score in this league. He can do it all. He can do it from any spot. He’s obviously really dangerous. We have to be aware of him and try to take his space away. If he has a little space then he can get his wrist shot away. It’s a dangerous shot for sure.”

Marino: “They’re a fast team. Last time we played them they came out strong in the first and took it to us. We played better in the second and third. They’re coming off back-to-back, we’ll try to make it a hard game for them.”

Green: “They’re good. They make a lot of plays. They move the puck well. They pass well and they skate well. We have to be ready for their speed and their skill. They’re going to be a determined group. They have a lot to play for right now.”

PREVIEW

DEVILS (37-36-5) vs. MAPLE LEAFS (45-23-9)

Head-to-Head

The Devils meet the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second and only time in New Jersey. The club’s met for the first time two weeks ago – March 26 – in Toronto. The Devils netted a 6-3 victory in that contest.

Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists while Jesper Bratt and Curtis Lazar each notched three assists in the game. Jack Hughes scored two goals. Goalie Jake Allen stopped 45 of 48 shots.

TJ Brodie had two assists for the Leafs while Joseph Woll took the loss.

The two teams meet for the final time this season in Toronto on Thursday night to close out the season series.

Devils Team Scope:

The Devils are looking to close out the season strong. They have four games remaining, and while they’re not officially out of a playoff spot, the chances are quite slim.

Jesper Bratt leads the club in scoring with 79 points on 25 goals and 54 points. He’s followed by Jack Hughes’ 74 points with a team-best 27 goals. Captain Nico Hischier has 26 goals and 63 points. Timo Meier is the fourth 20-goal guy for New Jersey with 25.

Rookie defenseman Luke Hughes paces the backend with nine goals and 45 points, which are the most points ever scored by a rookie blueliner in Devils history.

Maple Leafs Team Scope:

The Maple Leafs have already clinched a playoff spot and find themselves in the third spot in the Atlantic Division. They are still within striking distance of catching Florida for the No. 2 position (trailing by three points with one game in hand).

Toronto is playing the Devils on the second half of back-to-back games. They hosted the Penguins Monday night, winning 3-2 in overtime.

The Leafs are led by the transcendent talent of Auston Matthews, who leads the entire NHL with 65 goals and leads his team with 102 points. William Nyland has 40 goals on the year to go with 96 points. Mitch Marner (25 goals) and John Tavares (24) are the team’s other 20-goal guys with Tyler Bertuzzi (19) knocking on the door. Blueliner Morgan Rielly has seven goals and 54 points on the year. Goalie Ilya Samsonov started Monday night against the Penguins, so it's likely the Devils will face Joseph Woll.

By the Numbers:

Luke Hughes has a seven-game scoring streak with one goal and six assists in that span. 

Bratt has an eight game scoring streak with 12 total points (3g-9a). 

Injuries:

Devils

Hamilton (torn pectoral muscle, LTIR)
Bastian (lower-body, IR)
Foote (undisclosed)
Marino (undisclosed)
Kahkonen (lower-body)

Maple Leafs

Edmundson (undisclosed, week-to-week)
Jarnkrok (hand, week-to-week)
Klingberg (hip, LTIR)
Liljegren (upper-body, week-to-week)
Murray (hip, LTIR)
Muzzin (neck LTIR)