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NEW JERSEY DEVILS (3-1-0) vs. UTAH HOCKEY CLUB (3-0-0)
New Jersey hosts the Utah Hockey Club for the first time in team history. The Devils return home after their first “road” game of the season, a 5-3 win at Washington Saturday night.
Devils Team Scope:
While Jesper Bratt (1g-2a) and Timo Meier (2g-1a) have three-game point streaks, it’s been the Devils unsung heroes that have led the charge for the club in the opening three games. Paul Cotter has a team best four goals and is tied with Stefan Noesen for the points lead at five. Meanwhile, Noesen’s four assists are tied for the team lead with Erik Haula’s four.
Cotter and Noesen aren’t the only newcomers that have made an immediate impact on the team. Johnathan Kovacevic has been playing big minutes while adding three points on the year (1g-2a). Rookie blueliner Seamus Casey has two goals in his first four NHL games.
Goaltender Jacob Markstrom is 2-1 since joining the Devils. With the game against Utah being the first of back-to-back contests, it isn’t clear whether he or Jake Allen will get the start.
Utah Team Scope:
Utah couldn’t have asked for a better start. The Utah Hockey Club has been perfect, winning the opening three games of their season, including the inaugural game in Salt Lake City, 5-2, against Chicago. Since then, the Hockey Club is on the road for a four-game road trip that has started with overtime victories at the Islanders (5-4) and Rangers (6-5).
Dylan Guenther, who scored the first goal for Utah in franchise history, is having a remarkable start to his sophomore season. He has five goals in the opening three games, most in the NHL. Clayton Keller leads the team with six points (3g-3a) while Barrett Hayton (3g-2a) and Logan Cooley (5a) have also chipped in offensively.
INJURIES
Devils:
L.Hughes (shoulder), Pesce (ankle), Hatakka (upper-body), Vilen (upper-body), Beckman (lower-body)
Utah HC:
Bjugstad (upper-body), Marino (upper-body)
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