There will be some lineup shuffling tonight with the absence of Troy Terry, who left yesterday's game with a lower-body injury after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Flyers forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Sam Carrick, a healthy scratch yesterday, will likely draw into the lineup. Ryan Miller (4-2-2, 3.00 goals-against average and .908 save percentage) will start in goal.
The Devils haven't played since Saturday, a 2-1 victory in Arizona. This marks their first game without former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, who was traded to the Coyotes for a 2020 first-round draft choice (conditional), 2021 third-round draft choice (conditional), forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr and defenseman Kevin Bahl on Monday. Hall won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 2018 after posting a career-high 93 points (39g/54a) in 76 games to help New Jersey reach the postseason for the first time since 2012. Hall was a scratch in New Jersey's previous two games before the trade.
New Jersey has gone 2-7-1 in its past 10 games, but snapped a seven-game losing streak with the win against the Coyotes. Kyle Palmieri leads the club in scoring with 20 points (12g/8a) in 32 games. Mackenzie Blackwood (9-9-4, 2.85 GAA and .908 SV%) is expected to get the start in goal tonight.
This marks the opener of a two-game season series between the Duck and Devils, and the lone contest at Prudential Center. The Ducks have gone 17-15-4 all-time against the Devils, including a 6-9-2 mark on the road. They've won three straight and earned points in 11 of their past 13 (9-2-2) against New Jersey dating to Feb. 17, 2012. Ryan Getzlaf has 11 points (3g/8a) in 18 career games vs. New Jersey, tops among active Ducks skaters.
