Devils Game Day Preview: First Hudson River Rivalry Matchup of 2026-27

The New Jersey Devils return to the Prudential Center Thursday night to face their Hudson River rivals, the New York Rangers, for their first matchup of the season. New Jersey is coming off a 5-4 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Rangers enter Thursday’s game riding a two-game win streak, including a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.

Devils Storylines

Nico Daws is poised to get the start for New Jersey, with another chance to find his footing. Daws has not had the easiest time in net, especially with the team struggling to provide consistent defensive support. Against an offensively dangerous Rangers team, the Devils will need to limit high-danger chances, win battles around the crease and avoid costly turnovers to help their young goaltender settle into the game.

Jack Hughes has consistently found success against the Rangers, making him a key player to watch tonight as the Devils look to keep their offense rolling. In 26 career games against New York, he has 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists). Arseny Gritsyuk, Hughes and Jesper Bratt is also the line to watch. The trio has shown promising chemistry, bringing speed, skill and strong puck movement to become a dangerous offensive threat for the Devils.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe put the line together ahead of Tuesday’s matchup against the Red Wings, with Luke Evangelista sidelined by an illness and Connor Brown still waiting to return to the lineup. This line showed promise in its first outing, and the Devils will likely stick with the trio against the Rangers.

Finally, the biggest storyline for the Devils will be sustaining their offensive production. The Rangers have scored four or more goals in five of their eight games this season while holding opponents to one goal or fewer in three contests. New Jersey will need to keep pace, and continued pressure in the offensive zone will be key to its success.

Team Stats

New Jersey Devils

Season Record: 3-3-0

Team Leaders:  

• Jack Hughes — 2 goals (G), 6 assists (A), 8 points (P)
• Jesper Bratt — 2 G, 5 A, 7 P
• Nico Hischier — 3 G, 1 A, 4 P

Goalie Stats:

Nico Daws — 0-2-0, 4.58 goals against average (GAA), .824 save percentage (SV%)

Jake Allen — 3-1-0, 2.98 GAA, .885 SV%

New York Rangers

Season Record: 6-2-0

Team Leaders:

• Alexis Lafrenière — 7 G, 3, A, 10 P
• Mika Zibanejad — 2 G, 6 A, 8 P
• Adam Fox — 0 G, 8 A, 8 P

Goalie Stats:

Dylan Garand — 3-1-0, 1.15 GAA, .951 SV%

Igor Shesterkin* — 3-1-0, 1.79 GAA, .927 SV%

(*Shesterkin will miss the remainder of the 2026-27 season with a lower-body injury)

Projected Lineup

(Subject to change before puck drop)

New Jersey Devils

Timo Meier — Nico Hischier — Dawson Mercer

Jesper Bratt — Jack Hughes — Arseny Gritsyuk

Anthony Mantha — Evan Rodrigues — Stefan Noesen

Amadeus Lombardi — Cody Glass — Jesper Boqvist

Luke Hughes — Brett Pesce

Jonas Siegnethaler — Dougie Hamilton

Johnathan Kovacevic — Declan Chisholm

Nico Daws

Jake Allen

Scratched: Brenden Dillon, Remi Poirier

Injuries: Seamus Casey, Nick Bjugstad, Connor Brown, Luke Evangelista

New York Rangers

Gabe Perreault — Mika Zibanejad — Pavel Dorofeyev

Tye Kartye — J.T. Miller — Alexis Lafreniere

Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Eeli Tolvanen

Oliver Bjorkstrand — Justin Dowling — Matt Rempe

Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox

Marcus Pettersson — Sean Durzi

Alberts Smits — Braden Schneider

Dylan Garand

Spencer Martin

Scratched: Jaroslav Chmelar, Adam Sykora, Scott Morrow

Injuries: Igor Shesterkin, Joe Veleno, Joonas Korpisalo

Next Up for the Devils

After Thursday’s game, the Devils visit the Washington Capitals for a 1:00 PM matinee matchup on Saturday, followed by a 7:00 PM puck drop at home against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, Oct. 20.