NEW JERSEY DEVILS NEWS

Oilers take losing streak into matchup with the Devils

The Edmonton Oilers enter the matchup against the New Jersey Devils after losing three straight games

DECEMBER 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vitek Vanecek - Falls to Flyers Vanecek allowed three goals on 26 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers.

Impact Vanecek held Philadelphia to a pair of Ryan Poehling second-period goals in regulation, but Owen Tippett's tally off a New Jersey turnover in overtime stuck Vanecek with his first loss since Nov. 28. The 27-year-old netminder had won his previous three starts while splitting work with Akira Schmid. Overall, Vanecek is now 11-5-1 despite an uninspiring .883 save percentage and 3.30 GAA. The Devils are back in action Thursday against the Oilers.

DECEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vitek Vanecek - Starting Tuesday Vanecek will protect the home net Tuesday against Philadelphia, Sam Kasan of the Devils' official site reports.

Impact Vanecek has posted a 3-0-0 record to begin December, stopping 74 of 82 shots. Overall, he has an 11-5-0 record this season with a 3.33 GAA and an .883 save percentage through 18 appearances. Philadelphia is tied for 23rd in the league this campaign with 2.90 goals per contest.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vitek Vanecek - Available for Tuesday Vanecek (undisclosed) is available for Tuesday's home against Philadelphia, according to Sam Kasan of the Devils' official site.

Impact The Devils did not confirm a starter for Tuesday's contest, but Vanecek is probable to play after he occupied the starter's crease during the morning skate. He has posted an 11-5-0 record this season with a 3.33 GAA and an .883 save percentage over 18 appearances. Vanecek sat out Sunday's 5-1 loss to Anaheim because of an undisclosed injury.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Michael McLeod - Nets lone Devils goal in loss McLeod scored a goal on his lone shot in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Ducks.

Impact McLeod got the Devils on the board in the final minute of the second period, finishing a give-and-go with Curtis Lazar to cut Anaheim's lead to 2-1. The goal was McLeod's first point in five games. He's up to 11 points (six goals, five assists) with 50 hits through 29 games in a fourth-line role.

DECEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

New Jersey faces Philadelphia in Metropolitan Division action

The Philadelphia Flyers visit the New Jersey Devils in a matchup within the Metropolitan Division Tuesday

DECEMBER 18, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Akira Schmid - Falls to Anaheim Schmid allowed four goals on 27 shots in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Ducks.

Impact After keeping Anaheim off the board in the first period, Schmid allowed two goals in each of the final two frames before the Ducks added an empty netter, handing the 23-year-old netminder a 5-1 loss. Schmid had been playing well coming into Sunday's outing, going 4-2-0 with a .909 save percentage over his previous six games while splitting starting duties with Vitek Vanecek. Overall, Schmid's now 5-7-1 on the season with an .897 save percentage and 3.12 GAA.

DECEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vitek Vanecek - Unavailable Sunday Vanecek (undisclosed) will not suit up Sunday against the Ducks, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

Impact With Vanecek out, Nico Daws was promoted from AHL Utica to back up Akira Schmid. Vanecek is 11-5-0 this season despite a lackluster .883 save percentage and 3.33 GAA. New Jersey's next game is Tuesday against the Flyers.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Akira Schmid - Tending twine Sunday Schmid will get the starting nod Sunday at home against the Ducks, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

Impact Schmid stopped 23 of 26 shots in Saturday's win over Columbus and will start the second half of the back-to-back with Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed) dealing with an injury. Schmid has won four of his last six outings, registering a .909 save percentage during that stretch. Prior to that span, he had allowed 10 goals during a four-game losing skid. He owns a 3.03 GAA and a .900 save percentage through 13 appearances.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Daws - Joins big club Daws was promoted from AHL Utica on Sunday.

Impact With Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed) not available Sunday, Daws was bumped up to the top level to back up Akira Schmid. Daws has not seen any NHL action since the 2021-22 campaign. He's stopped 59 of 63 shots in two AHL games this season.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Toffoli - Two points against Jackets Toffoli scored a goal and added an assist in Saturday's 6-3 win over Columbus.

Impact The veteran winger snapped a six-game point drought with the performance. Toffoli's been streaky to begin his first campaign with the Devils, but he's proven that last season's breakout with the Flames was no fluke by producing 13 goals and 23 points in 28 games while skating in a top-six role and handling a regular shift on New Jersey's top power-play unit.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Hischier - Two-point effort Saturday Hischier collected an even-strength goal and a power-play assist in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact The 24-year-old got in on the action late in the second period by helping to set up Jack Hughes for the eventual game-winner, and Hischier then potted his own tally in the third. He's been on fire since returning from an upper-body injury in late November, delivering five goals and 12 points in the last 10 games, but Saturday's helper was his first power-play point in December. If his production with the man advantage picks up, Hischier could break through to another level and become an elite fantasy asset.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jesper Bratt - Three helpers in Columbus Bratt notched three assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact The 25-year-old winger helped set up three straight New Jersey goals by three different teammates -- Tyler Toffoli, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier -- across the second and third periods. Bratt extended his point streak to seven games in the process, a stretch in which he's piled up four goals and 11 points. He's racing toward a career-best season, and after two straight 73-point campaigns, Bratt has already produced 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) in 28 games to begin 2023-24.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jack Hughes - Hat trick in Saturday's win Hughes scored three goals, including the game-winner on the power play, in Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jackets.

Impact The 22-year-old set the tone for the night by beating Daniil Tarasov on his backhand just 47 seconds into the first period, and Hughes then added tallies in the second and third to complete his second career hat trick. It's his fourth three-point performance in the last nine games, and since returning from a shoulder injury in mid-November, Hughes has produced nine goals and 17 points in 13 contests.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Akira Schmid - Cruises to fifth win Schmid made 23 saves in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact The Devils scored 47 seconds into the game and never looked back, giving Schmid a fairly easy evening in the crease. The 23-year-old has worked his way into a timeshare with Vitek Vanecek, and over his last six appearances Schmid has gone 4-2-0 with a 2.80 GAA and .909 save percentage -- not elite numbers, but better than Vanecek has managed during that same period.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Anaheim takes losing streak into game against New Jersey

The Anaheim Ducks are looking to break a five-game skid with a victory against the New Jersey Devils

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jack Hughes scores hat trick, leads Devils over Blue Jackets 6-3

Jack Hughes scored his second career hat trick to lead the New Jersey Devils over the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS