nj-ana-preview

The Devils tour of Southern California shifts to Anaheim where they will face the Ducks tonight.
You can watch the game on MSG+ or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

INSIDE THE DEVILS

Jesper Boqvist recalled from Binghamton and more news and notes from the past few days.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE DEVILS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

ANAHEIM, CA - The Devils have picked up points in each of their last five games but are still looking to right the ship coming off back-to-back overtime losses in the first two legs of their California trip.
The team will have two lineup changes from Saturday's 2-1 OT setback in Los Angeles with goaltender Cory Schneider starting and defenseman Josh Jacobs making his season debut on the blueline.
Hughes - Hischier - Palmieri
Wood - Zajac - Anderson
Bratt - Zacha - Gusev
Rooney - McLeod - Hayden
Mueller - Subban
Mermis - Severson
Carrick - Jacobs
Schneider
Blackwood
Freddy Claesson won't play tonight and is a bit banged up, noted Devils interim head coach Alain Nasreddine.
In Binghamton, Dakota Mermis and Josh Jacobs were a pairing for a lot of the season but the coach has elected to put Jacobs with Connor Carrick and keep Mermis and Damon Severson together.
"We'll keep Mermis with Severson. That pairing has been pretty solid (and with Jacobs we will have) Carrick on the left, the more experienced guy," Nasreddine noted.

PRE-GAME RAW | Josh Jacobs

Jacobs said he was excited to get his first chance with the team this season.
"It's exciting. You dream about this your whole life. It's another dream come true. Played one game last year so I've just got to feed off that to be successful," said the 2014 Devils second-round pick.
"Down there, I was playing very good. I was being aggressive and confident with the puck and without the puck. I just need to bring that here."
Jacobs added that skating is one of the biggest factors in his ability to defend.
"My skating ability, I think that's one of the strengths of my game. And I have to move the puck well."
SCHNEIDER STARTS
Cory Schneider gets his third start of the trip after a win in Detroit and an overtime loss in San Jose.
"When Schneids came in his first game, I thought he was solid and gave the team confidence. Then he had the game after and again he was solid," said Nasreddine, adding that having the ability to insert a solid netminder has helped Blackwood's game and confidence.
"Blackie is playing well but that might have something to do with that he's not playing as much so we want to keep it that way."
-- Marc Ciampa, NewJerseyDevils.com

PREVIEW

DEVILS (25-27-12) at DUCKS (26-30-8)
TV: 8:00 PM ET; Televised on MSG+
Head-to-Head:
Tonight's game is the second and final meeting between the two teams this season.
Earlier this month, the Devils won 3-1 at Prudential Center. Kyle Palmieri, Nico Hischier and Sami Vatanen each scored the goals for the Devils.
The lone Ducks goal was scored by Adam Henrique.
Anaheim won both meetings last season, 3-2 in New Jersey and 6-5 in a shootout in Anaheim.
Jesper Bratt (1G-3A) led the Devils in points, tallying four in two games played. Kyle Palmieri (2G) led New Jersey in goals, notching two in the 2018-19 season series.
Devils team scope:
The Devils have picked up points in each of their last five games (3-0-2) but have dropped their last two games in overtime, 3-2 in San Jose on Thursday and 2-1 in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon.
Overall, the Devils finished February with a record of 7-3-4 and it was their most successful month of the season so far.
New Jersey had four players top the leaderboard on the club with 10 points: Jesper Bratt, Kyle Palmieri, Nikita Gusev and Damon Severson. Bratt and Palmieri led the team with six goals.
Severson was tied for 11th in the NHL among defensemen in points for February.
Ducks team scope:
The Ducks have picked up points in each of their last three games, defeating Pittsburgh last time out with a 3-2 win on Friday night. They also beat Edmonton 3-2 in overtime this past Tuesday and lost in OT this past Sunday 6-5 to Vegas. Tonight's game concludes a six-game homestand for the Ducks.
Former Devil Adam Henrique was the team's leading scorer in the month of February with 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists). Nick Ritchie, who was traded at the deadline this past Monday, was second with seven points followed by six different players with five points.
By the Numbers:
Devils were 7-4-3 in February but the Ducks also were pretty good with a record of 6-4-3. It was New Jersey's first month this season above .500 and Anaheim's second with the first being an 8-6-0 record in October.
Ducks are 5-17-5 when outshooting their opponent this season and 21-11-3 when being outshot. Ducks are 7-7-1 against the Metropolitan Division and Devils are 6-4-3 against the Pacific.
Ducks power play is tied for 30th in the NHL at 14.3%. Ducks penalty kill is 23rd at 78.1%. Anaheim is the third-most penalized team in the NHL, averaging 10.4 minutes per game. Devils are fourth at 10.0.
Injury Updates:
Devils - Will Butcher (lower body) is on IR
Ducks - Erik Gudbranson (upper body) is on IR; Cam Fowler (lower body) is day-to-day; Hampus Lindholm (upper body) is day-to-day
-- Marc Ciampa, NewJerseyDevils.com