Devils Host Oilers in High-Stakes Showdown

NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils are set to face off against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night at Prudential Center, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. This marks a key matchup as both teams chase playoff positioning in their respective divisions.

The Devils, currently sporting a 35-25-6 record, are looking to secure their third consecutive victory after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 and the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 earlier this week. New Jersey trails Carolina by six points in the Metropolitan Division standings, sitting third with 76 points.

“Playoff mentality, that’s how we have to approach games,” said forward Timo Meier, who netted a goal against Columbus. “This definitely feels good, but now we have to build on this win.”

The Oilers enter the matchup with a record of 37-23-4, recently suffering a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. Edmonton is currently battling for playoff positioning in the Pacific Division, holding onto second place by just two points over the Los Angeles Kings.

Tonight’s game will feature a significant change for the Devils as defenseman Simon Nemec returns to the lineup, replacing Dennis Cholowski. Nemec, the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has been striving for consistency after experiencing an up-and-down season with the team and the Utica Comets of the AHL.

“It’s always hard to sit and watch the guys play,” Nemec said. “I just want to be better than the last game and show that I’m ready for this chance.” Coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged the young blueliner’s struggles but expressed faith in his ability to bounce back.

“He had one horrific period that we needed to rinse away. I liked where his game was going; it just fell out. He needs to find that consistency,” Keefe noted.

On the other side, the Oilers are led by two of the NHL’s most prolific scorers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who rank second and fourth in league scoring, respectively. Draisaitl boasts 97 points while McDavid has 82, despite missing some time due to injury.

“It’s a big challenge,” said Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic regarding the Oilers’ offensive duo. “The speed that they come at you with, there aren’t many guys in the world that can do that. It’s going to be a five-man effort to slow them down.”

The Devils aim to implement a disciplined approach on special teams, knowing that Edmonton possesses the fifth-best power play in the league, operating at a 26.6 percent success rate. “Stay out of the box. We know how good their power play is,” Kovacevic advised.

As for both squads, the playoff race is intensifying. The Devils need to capitalize on this home game, while the Oilers are eager to reverse their recent trend of losses. The anticipation builds as the two teams prepare for a fierce battle on the ice.