10:37 pm
November 6

Devils @ Sharks

Who will WIN this matchup?

New Jersey Devils (4-3-2)

@ San Jose Sharks (6-4-0)

 

Starting Goalies:

Jonathan Bernier (NJ): Confirmed

James Reimer (SJ): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

New Jersey Devils: (+115)

San Jose Sharks: (-135)

 

• The New Jersey Devils are struggling to win, and the big culprit heading into Saturday’s clash with the San Jose Sharks is obvious to them: a lack of scoring. As the Devils prepare to conclude a three-game road trip through California, they are sputtering along with just one win in five outings. A 3-2 overtime defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings on Friday was the second extra-time loss in that swoon.

• The Devils have scored just 15 goals in their past seven games, and they were shut out Tuesday at Anaheim. The effort has been there, but the results have not.

• Being without a couple of key players, Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, has hindered the Devils, who have been skunked on their power play in four consecutive games, going 0-for-14 in that span.

• One positive in Friday’s defeat was the play of goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who saw his first action after offseason heel surgery. Blackwood stopped 26 shots in an excellent performance.

• New Jersey will face a Sharks team that is coming off a 5-3 loss to the visiting St. Louis Blues on Thursday and won’t know until shortly before puck drop who will be able to play.

• For the last week, the Sharks have been decimated by a COVID-19 outbreak. Last Saturday saw seven players as well as coach Bob Boughner go on the league’s protocol list. Two returned to action, Andrew Cogliano and Jonathan Dahlen, but in turn forwards Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc joined Matt Nieto, Erik Karlsson, Jake Middleton, Radim Simek and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. San Jose had eight rookies in the lineup against the Blues.

• As well, the club decided to send 2021 first-round draft choice William Eklund back to Sweden. The 19-year-old forward played well in collecting four assists this season, but the move means next season will be the first year of Eklund’s three-year contract.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
San Jose Sharks
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