Devils Host Predators, Final Western Opponent | PREVIEW

New Jersey is back home on Sunday night to conclude their 16th set of back-to-back games this season.

The Devils host their final Western Conference opponent team this year when they square off with the Nashville Predators.

You can watch on MSGSN 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

The Devils did not hold a morning skate Sunday due to playing in back-to-back contests. Interim head coach Travis Green met with the media prior to the game.

Lineup

Devils forward Curtis Lazar left Saturday’s game in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Green said Lazar was “not great,” adding: “I don’t know if we’ll see (Lazar) for the rest of the regular season or not.”

Defenseman John Marino (upper-body) will also not be in the lineup.

Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen will make the start in net.

Predatory

Nashville has been one of the hottest teams in the NHL of late. They went on a 16-0-2 run, which included an eight-game winning streak, through February and March. And while the team has cooled since then, the team is still trying to solidify its playoff positioning – Nashville holds the last spot with a seven-point cushion – while coming off a 2-0 loss Saturday night on Long Island.

“We’re going to have to be ready to go tonight. They need points,” Green said. “They’re going to be a desperate team. They lost last night. When you play a team coming off a loss in a back-to-back game, you know that they’re going to be ready to play. We’re going to have to be ready tonight.”

Back-to-Back

The Devils have struggled in back-to-back contests this year, going 14-15-1 in the opening 15 sets. This marks their final set of the season. And the club opened with a 4-3 win at Ottawa.

Had the club faired better in the games-in-consecutive-nights scenario, it could have really changed their outlook on the season.

“We’re never going to use it as an excuse. That is part of the NHL,” Green said. “You have to be physically ready and mentally. For me it’s not just the physical part of back-to-back, it’s the mental part and understanding your body. With a young team, that’s part of maturing as a group is being able to play back-to-back games.”

Finish

The Devils have blown two third-period leads in their two games before facing Ottawa. While the Senators made a push, cutting a 4-1 lead into 4-3, the Devils did finally hold off the late charge to hold on for the victory.

“There’s something to be said about learning how to win when you have the lead, and not letting the team get life,” Green said. “A lot of it, young players tend to be passive, extra safe. If you’re playing safe, the other team will come through you. It doesn’t mean taking chances. It just means being committed to the defensive part of your game. A lot of that is based on skating and being on top of people.”

--Sam Kasan

PREVIEW

DEVILS (37-36-4) vs. PREDATORS (44-29-4)

Head-to-Head

This is the second and final meeting between the Devils and Predators this season.

The two clubs met previously on Feb. 13, when Nico Hischier had a two-goal night in a Devils 4-2 win against Nashville. Jack Hughes and Timo Meier also scored for New Jersey, with goaltender Nico Daws making 30 saves.

The Predators opened the scoring of the game on a power play goal by Ryan O’Reilly, followed by a second-period goal by Tommy Novak.

The Devils scored three goals in the third period in the victory.

Devils Team Scope:

The Devils are concluding an NHL-high 16th set of back-to-back games when they host the Predators. The team is coming off of a 4-3 win in Ottawa on Saturday night.

Jesper Bratt continues to lead the club in points, working at a point-per-game pace with 78 points in 77 games, as he sets new career highs. Brendan Smith scored his fifth goal of the season and second in as many games, in Ottawa, tying his career-high in goals, which he's reached twice before in his career, once in 2013-14 with the Detroit Red Wings, and again in 2020-21 with the Rangers. Adding two assists, Smith had the first three-point night of his career.

The Devils have just three home games left this regular season, starting with the Predators, followed by the Leafs on Tuesday night and they'll close out their regular season next Monday night against the Islanders.

Predators Team Scope:

The Nashville Predators are sitting in the first Wild Card spot in the West with 92 points, with an away record of 22-13-3 this season. The Preds were shutout by the Islanders on Saturday night and are 6-4-1 in their past 10 games.

The club is lead by forward Filip Forsberg who has 87 points in 76 games (43g-44a) and defenseman Roman Josi who has 77 points in 76 games with 20 goals and 57 assists.

Goaltender Juuse Saros has played 60 of Nashville’s games this season with a 33-23-4 record and a .908 save percentage and a 2.82 GAA.

By the Numbers:

Luke Hughes is one point off of setting the Devils rookie defenseman record for points. On Saturday he picked up an assist on Ondrej Palat's goal for his 44th point of the year. The point total ties Will Butcher, who set the record during the 2017-18 NHL season.

Brendan Smith is coming off a career night contributing 3 points in the Devils' win against Ottawa (1g-2a).

Injuries:

Devils

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

Predators

N/A

--Amanda Stein