The Golden Knights have won five games in a row and are coming off another win against a division opponent after securing a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks two days ago. The win also extended Vegas’ undefeated streak in 2019.
Today’s matchup pits Vegas against a Metropolitan Division foe, one the Knights have had some trouble with in their brief existence. Last year the Devils came into town and put up eight goals in one of the worst losses in Golden Knights franchise history. This season, the Knights held a 4-1 lead four minutes into the second period but proceeded to give up four unanswered goals, including the game-winning overtime marker from Nico Hischier. Vegas registered just 22 shots in that contest.
That makes today’s matchup a tad more interesting than it may appear on paper. The Devils are without superstar and reigning MVP Taylor Hall, and goaltending has been incredibly inconsistent throughout the year. That being said, the Devils have gone 5-1-0 in their last six games. New Jersey (16-17-7) is still ranked 13th overall in the Eastern Conference with 39 points, but the Devils’ season is far from over.
In addition to Hall, Marcus Johansson is out of the lineup for New Jersey, as is Cory Schneider. Keith Kinkaid is the likely starter for this afternoon’s tilt.
Update: Malcolm Subban WILL get the nod today. Shea Theodore returns to the lineup, and Oscar Lindberg will play in place of William Carrier on the fourth line.
As such, here are the projected lineups for both clubs:
Golden Knights
Marchessault — Karlsson — Smith
Pacioretty — Stastny — Tuch
Nosek — Eakin — Carpenter
Lindberg — Bellemare — Reaves
McNabb — Schmidt
Hunt — Engelland
Merrill — Holden
Fleury
Subban
Devils
Bratt (#63) — Hischier (#13) — Palmieri (#21)
Wood (#44) — Zajac (#19) — Coleman (#20)
Pietela (#56) — Zacha (#37) — Noesen (#23)
Boyle (#11) — Seney (#43) — Stafford (#18)
Greene (#6) — Severson (#28)
Vatanen (#45) — Santini (#16)
Butcher (#8) — Lovejoy (#12)
Kinkaid (#1)
Blackwood (#29)
Let’s discuss!