Game Preview: Devils (13-4-1) at Tampa Bay Lightning (9-7-2)

Photo by Rich Graessle/NHL via Getty Images

The Devils set sail for Florida for the next week with two matchups against the two teams from the Sunshine State. First up is the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second matchup between the two clubs. The first came in the second game of the season, which the Devils took 5-3 on the back of Connor Brown's two-goal game. This game started the Devils' eight-game winning streak, and was also a part of the Lightning's rough start to the year that saw them go 1-4-2. However, since then, the Lightning have rebounded to go 8-3-0 in the next 11 games.

Both teams have some game-time decisions regarding injuries. For the Devils, Connor Brown, Dougie Hamilton, and Evgeni Dadonov all returned to practice yesterday, as well as traveled with the team for the three-game trip. Brendan Dillon, who was held out of practice yesterday, is expected to play. I would expect, barring any setbacks, that Brown and Hamilton will make their return to the lineup tonight, whereas Dadonov will rejoin the lineup later in the trip. For the Lightning, Captain Victor Hedman has missed the last three games, and Anthony Cirelli has missed the last four. We'll see if either of the Tampa Bay veterans can rejoin the group tonight.

Devils Last 5: (4-0-1)

Lightning Last 5: (3-2-0)

Player to Watch: With the absence of Jack Hughes, it's very clear that Nico Hischier is now the face of the Devils. On both sides of the ice, he will be asked to log huge minutes, and it's hard to ask any more of him. However, his goal-scoring numbers are much lower than they were last year at this point, so I'm gonna look for Nico Hischier to raise his offensive game and lead this Devils' team forward. I think he pots one tonight.