The Devils finish the 2021-22 season with a home finale against the Detroit Red Wings Friday night. The club will be holding its annual fan appreciation night, featuring special warmup jerseys and partner activations.
Game time is 7:00 p.m. ET and you can watch on MSG+ or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Check below for the pre-game story, roster updates, recent news, and more.
News and notes from recent Devils transactions and team practices.
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NEWARK, NJ – Check back closer to puck drop.
DEVILS (27-45-9) vs. RED WINGS (31-40-10)
TV: 7:00 PM ET on MSG+
Radio: Listen on Devils Hockey Network
Head-to-Head
The Devils meet the Red Wings for the second time in a week. The two teams squared off Sunday afternoon with Detroit scoring a 3-0 victory. The Red Wings are going for a sweep after also winning in the Motor City, 5-2, on Dec. 18.
Devils team scope:
The Devils finish the season at home after going 0-1-1 on their final two-game road swing through Ottawa (5-4, SOL) and Carolina (6-3). New Jersey will be playing on the second half of back-to-backs.
The team played its last game without captain Nico Hischier, Tomas Tatar and Andreas Johnsson (non-COVID related illnesses), though Jimmy Vesey (left leg injury) did return. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who started in Ottawa Tuesday for the first time in over three months, will play in the contest.
Regardless of the finale, Jesper Bratt will finish the season as the club’s leader in goals (26), assists (46) and points (72) – all of which were career highs. Hischier (21G-38A-59PTS), Jack Hughes (26G-30A-56PTS) and Yegor Sharangovich (24G-22A-46PTS) all set career highs as well.
Red Wings team scope:
Detroit finishes their season with a three-game road trip, which featured two trips to Newark. The Red Wings have won four of its their last seven road games.
Dylan Larkin, despite being out, will likely finish as the team’s leader in goals (31) and points (69). Tyler Bertuzzi, who has four goals and a hat trick against the Devils this season, places second with 29 goals and 60 points. Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider could win the NHL’s Rookie of the Year after posting 43 assists and 49 points.
By the Numbers:
The Devils finished with 11 road wins on the season for the third time in franchise history (2018-19; 1985-86). The Devils had only nine wins in the 1990-91 season.
Injury Updates:
Devils
Bernier (hip – IR)
Graves (chin)
Hughes (MCL sprain)
Siegenthaler (broken hand)
Wood (hip)
Tatar (non-COVID illness)
Hischier (non-COVID illness)
Johnsson (non-COVID illness)
Red Wings
Zadina (non-COVID illness)
Larkin (core muscle)
Pickard (lower body)
Smith (undisclosed)
Fabbri (IR, knee)
Rowney (IR, lower body)
Staal (COVID-19)
–Sam Kasan, NewJerseyDevils.com