Preview: Devils Host Rangers in Crucial Hudson River Rivalry Showdown

Playoff Stakes: The Devils (40-29-7) hold the 3rd spot in the Metropolitan Division and look to clinch a playoff berth (magic number is 7). The Rangers (36-32-7) are currently just outside the wild-card picture, trailing Montreal by two points, making this a near must-win game for them.

Key Absences & Returns: The Devils are without star Jack Hughes (shoulder surgery, out for season) and defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler (regular season). However, Cody Glass returns from injury to add center depth. The Rangers recently welcomed top prospect Gabe Perreault, who made his NHL debut, but may be without Mika Zibanejad (illness).

Goalie Matchup: Devils' Jacob Markstrom, who has started all previous games against the Rangers this season (2-0-1 record), gets the nod again. He's won his last three starts. The Rangers will likely counter with Igor Shesterkin, who has shown flashes of brilliance despite posting career-worst numbers this season.

Recent Form: Both teams enter after beating the Minnesota Wild. The Devils had a four-day break before this game, winning three of their last four prior. The Rangers edged the Wild in overtime in their last outing.

Why this matters: For the Devils, a win significantly strengthens their playoff positioning. For the Rangers, every point is crucial as they battle Montreal and Columbus for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Q: What's at stake in this game?

A: Playoff positioning is paramount. The Devils are looking to solidify their 3rd place spot in the Metro Division, inching closer to clinching a playoff berth. The Rangers are in a desperate fight for a Wild Card spot and need points to stay in the race.

Q: Who are the key players to watch?

A: For the Devils, watch offensive leaders Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier, standout defenseman Luke Hughes, and goalie Jacob Markstrom who has been strong recently and against the Rangers this season. For the Rangers, keep an eye on top scorer Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and newly debuted rookie Gabe Perreault.

Q: Who is out with injuries?

A: The Devils are missing star center Jack Hughes for the rest of the season (shoulder surgery), along with defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler for the regular season. For the Rangers, forwards Edstrom, Kaliyev, and Rempe are out with injuries, and Mika Zibanejad's status is uncertain due to illness.

This game has significant playoff implications, especially for the Rangers who are battling for survival.

The Devils need to continue finding offense without Jack Hughes, relying on players like Bratt, Hischier, and Meier.

Watch the goaltending battle between Markstrom and Shesterkin, as both can steal games.

Rangers' special teams could be a deciding factor – can their struggling power play convert, and can their strong PK hold off the Devils?

Monitor the impact of returning players (Glass for NJD) and new additions (Perreault for NYR).

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