Lazar Returns Against the Blues | PREVIEW

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (20-10-3) vs. ST. LOUIS BLUES (15-14-3)

New Jersey starts a two-game road trip in St. Louis with a Tuesday game against the Blues.

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 Cutting Edge Ice Academy.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - As the Devils are in St. Louis taking on the Blues, Curtis Lazar will return to the lineup for his first game since Oct. 27. The forward will center a line with Tomas Tatar and Nathan Bastian. When talking to the media yesterday, Lazar shared he felt ready to be back. When it comes to getting up to speed for a game, the forward broke down the process of getting back into it.

"I've skated hard, I've worked on everything," Lazar explained Monday afternoon. "That first game, the first couple games, it's always kind of a bit of a shock to the body but there's no better way than just to hop back out there. Don't tip your toe, just leave it all on the ice, and fight through it."

Here's how the Devils skated this morning ahead of their game against the Blues:

Facing the Blues

Tonight is the second and final meeting between the Devils and Blues this season. Head Coach Sheldon Keefe discussed how to push back against St. Louis’ improved play in tonight’s matchup.

“We just got to stay with them,” Keefe said about the Blues. “You got to do it for 60 minutes and threaten as often as you can, get to the neutral zone as cleanly as you can, defend quickly, get the puck back … it’s the same challenge you face each night, this team’s going to make it a little bit harder.”

The Blues defensive structure has improved under new head coach Jim Montgomery and it kept the Devils from scoring in the previous matchup. New Jersey is focused on getting inside to generate more against a strong defense.

“That’s something we’ve been nailing down, trying to get inside, get in front of the net, create chaos,” Cotter shared. “I think if we do that, then we open up the middle which ultimately when their center and wing both go sometimes they duplicate and the middle’s open. If we use that properly tonight, I think we should get some opportunities and cash in on those.”

In addition to their strong defensive structure, St. Louis finds inside positioning themselves and forechecks hard to sustain time in the offensive zone. Defenseman Brenden Dillon discussed what it takes to defend against the Blues.

“They do a great job of getting to our net,” Dillon explained. “It’s going to be one of those tough, tough games. I think something that has been a goal of ours is, whatever style of play we’re playing against, do our best to match that, if not exceed that in whatever facet it takes to win the game. Different test from some of the teams we’ve played at home over the last little bit, but we’re trying to build something that’s sustainable.”

Shutdown Line

Often Nico Hischier’s line is tasked with matching up against opposing team’s top talent to shut them down defensively. Keefe discussed the impact Timo Meier has had with that responsibility.

“He’s done really great work on the forecheck, really moving his feet, and on top of defensemen quickly,” Keefe explained. “When he does that, it allows the line to be in the offensive zone. It’s the best way and easiest way to defend against top players is to make them have to be in their own end. Meier does a really good job of that. He’s also tracked really well. Comes back just as hard towards our end as he does on that forecheck, so all that stuff has been great. When he has the puck, he holds onto it. Those are all really important elements when you’re playing against good players.”

THE SCOOP

The Devils are back on the road after a successful homestand where New Jersey went 3-1-1. During the five-straight at home, the Devils saw some of their best defensive efforts and games this season. In their most recent game, a 4-1 win over the Blackhawks, New Jersey stayed patient when they couldn't score on any of their 17 shots in the first two periods. Dawson Mercer started the Devils scoring in the first three minutes of the third period to tie the game at 1-1. New Jersey went on to score three goals in 2:06 with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier contributing. With confidence in their game and a higher level of execution, the Devils leave the extended time at home stronger than when they entered.

Nico Hischier's 16 goals lead the Devils while three players are tied for second with 13: Stefan Noesen, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Hughes. Jesper Bratt's 28 assists and 41 points are team-highs while Hughes is right behind Bratt with 26 assists and 39 points. Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen make up the Devils goaltending tandem. Through 23 games played Markstrom has a 15-6-2 record. He's averaging 2.35 goals against and has a .908 save percentage. Allen has a 5-4-1 record through 10 games played. He is averaging 2.74 goals against and has a .904 save percentage. After missing the last eight days due to injury, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed Dec. 16 that Allen was healthy and available. Following the stop in St. Louis, New Jersey heads to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets Thursday night.

The Blues are fresh off a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers which helped St. Louis sweep the season series. Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, and Pavel Buchnevich scored while Thomas also had an assist. After letting go of Drew Bannister on Nov. 24, the Blues hired Jim Montgomery the same day. Since Montgomery took over St. Louis has gone 6-2-2. Through the last ten games, the Blues have focused on their defensive zone play, checking, and intensity.

Kyrou leads the Blues in goals, 13, and points, 27. Thomas' 17 assists are first on St. Louis and his 23 points are second on the team. Dylan Holloway and Jake Neighbours are tied for the second most goals on the Blues (10). As their starting goaltender, Jordan Binnington has played 23 games and has a 8-11-3 record. He has a 2.93 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. Joel Hofer has played 10 games this season and has a 7-3-0 record. He's averaging 2.83 goals against and has a .905 save percentage. Following their game against the Devils, the Blues head to Florida for a back-to-back against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Jacob Markstrom has won five of his last six starts with the lone loss coming in overtime. Through six games Markstrom has given up 11 goals through 134 shots faced. Against the New York Rangers on Dec. 2, Markstrom stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced, the most shots he's faced during the last six games.

Blues: Robert Thomas is riding a seven-game points streak where he has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in that span. Four of the seven games were multi-point efforts for Thomas. On Dec. 5, Thomas logged a season-high time on ice, playing 23:29.

INJURIES

Devils: Hatakka (shoulder, IR)

OPPONENT: Leddy (lower-body, IR), Krug (ankle, LTIR), Faksa (lower-body, day-to-day)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Nov. 27 vs STL, L 3-0
• Dec. 17 @ STL

GAME NOTES

• In their most recent game on Dec. 14, the Devils scored four third period goals which ties their season-high for goals in a period. It was the first time in the third period.
• New Jersey's 43 second period goals lead the NHL. They have a +17 goal differential for the middle frame.
• The Devils special teams continue to impress. New Jersey's power play is second in the NHL (30%) and their penalty kill is eighth (81.9%).
• Jordan Kyrou enters Tuesday on a four-game goal streak (4G) and five-game points streak (4G, 1A) as he continues to pace the Blues in goals (13) and points (27). In his seventh NHL season, all with St. Louis, Kyrou is nearing a point per game pace with 27 points in 32 games. Through those 32 games, he has been without a point only 10 times.
• Brayden Schenn's two overtime goals are tied for the second-most in the NHL.