Game Preview: Devils (14-7-1) vs St. Louis Blues (7-10-6)

Elsa/GettyImages

For the second consecutive year, the Devils will host the St. Louis Blues on Thanksgiving Eve. The Devils will look for a better result from the game a year ago, a 3-0 loss.

The St. Louis Blues have been one of the worst teams in the NHL thus far. One of their biggest struggles through the early parts of the season has been keeping the puck out of their net. At 28th in the NHL in goals allowed per game (3.61), while also having a goals-for per game at 28th (2.65), it's been a complete mess for Jim Montgomery's club.

Team Canada hero Jordan Binnington is having a career-worst start to his year. With just five wins in 15 games, and a save percentage sitting at .880. We'll see if it's Binnington in the net or if it's Joel Hofer, who was in goal Monday for a 3-2 loss to the Rangers. With the team struggling to produce offense, their leading goal-scorer is actually defenseman Justin Faulk with six tallies.

St. Louis has dropped five of their last six games coming into tonight; however, the Devils cannot take any team lightly. The Devils will look to go into Thanksgiving with a second straight victory. Evgeni Dadonov is doubtful to play after suffering an injury on Monday night. Juho Lammikko will be slotted back into the lineup on the wing in his place.

We'll see if the Devils will go with Markstrom or Allen tonight. My gut tells me Markstrom, due in part to his strong outing the other night. Both goalies will play this weekend, with a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday against Buffalo and Philadelphia. Outside of Dadonov, I do not foresee the Devils having any lineup changes, especially coming off a win.

Meier - Hischier - Bratt

Palat - Mercer - Gritsyuk

Lammikko - Glass - Brown

Cotter - Glendening - Noesen

Siegenthaler - Hamilton

Hughes - Nemec

Dillon - White

The Hughes-Nemec pairing is fascinating. They've both been sheltered, being paired with veterans for the majority of their Devils careers. The hope for the Devils is that they stay solid defensively, but also be possession monsters, especially in the transition game. In a small sample size, they've been very noticeable.

For the Devils, it's simple. Stay hot at home and beat a team that you should beat, but do not take this team for granted.