Devils Host Defending Champs in Home Opener
Key Matchup
The New Jersey Devils will host the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in their home opener at Prudential Center on Thursday night. This highly anticipated clash pits two of the Eastern Conference's top teams against each other early in the season.
The Devils enter the game with a 2-1-0 record, having won their last outing against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, the Panthers stand at 3-2-0 on the young season, including a loss to the Detroit Red Wings in their previous game.
Player Storylines
All eyes will be on the Devils' young stars, led by center Nico Hischier and winger Jesper Bratt. Hischier discussed the importance of lineup flexibility, saying "You can move things around and that helps the whole team, and helps me as well."
Rookie forward Arseny Gritsyuk has also made an immediate impact, recording three assists in his first three NHL games. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe praised Gritsyuk's defensive play and ability to quickly adapt to the team's systems.
On the Panthers' side, the team will be missing key players like Sasha Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, which could open the door for other contributors to step up.
TL;DR
- The New Jersey Devils host the defending champion Florida Panthers in their home opener
- The Devils enter the game 2-1-0, while the Panthers are 3-2-0 on the young season
- Young stars Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt lead the Devils, while rookie Arseny Gritsyuk has made an immediate impact
- The Panthers will be without injured stars Sasha Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk