Game Preview

The 2023-24 NHL season kicks off with a clash at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, as the Detroit Red Wings take on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday evening. The Red Wings aim to bounce back from their losing record last year, while the Devils seek to build upon a successful season that took them to the Eastern Conference finals.

In their previous encounters, the Devils proved their superiority by winning two of the three games played against the Red Wings last season, including both matchups at the Prudential Center.

Detroit Red Wings' Outlook

The Red Wings enter the 2023-24 season with hopes of improvement, following a season where they ranked in the bottom 10 of several offensive categories. In the offseason, they made significant moves to bolster their roster, with the acquisition of 25-year-old RW Alex DeBrincat being the highlight. DeBrincat, who had an impressive 27 goals and 39 assists for the Ottawa Senators last year, is expected to inject much-needed firepower into Detroit's offense.

In exchange for DeBrincat, Detroit traded away 27-year-old winger Dominik Kubalik, who contributed 20 goals and 25 assists, along with a conditional first-round pick in 2024 and a 2024 fourth-rounder. Additional additions to their forward lines include J.T. Compher, Daniel Sprong, and Klim Kostin. On the defensive end, the Red Wings strengthened their roster with the signings of Shayne Gostisbehere, Jeff Petry, and Justin Holl.

Last season, Detroit struggled offensively, ranking 25th in the league with an average of 2.89 goals per game. Defensively, they also faced challenges, ranking 25th in average goals against per game with 3.22. Goaltending proved to be an area of improvement, as they ranked 24th in the league in save percentage with .890.

New Jersey Devils' Perspective

The Devils come into the new season with high expectations following their remarkable journey to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last year, where they fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime. They secured the re-signing of 26-year-old RW Tim Meier, who notched an impressive 40 goals and 26 assists last season. Additionally, the Devils acquired RW Tyler Toffoli through a trade with the Calgary Flames, adding a player who had a career-best season with 34 goals, 39 assists, and 73 points.

To obtain Toffoli, the Devils traded away center Yegor Sharangovich, who contributed 13 goals and 17 assists for New Jersey last season, along with a draft pick. While the Devils did lose impactful defensive players like Damon Severson and Ryan Graves during the offseason, their high-ranking defensive unit from last year largely remains intact.

New Jersey boasted an elite offense in the previous season, ranking fourth overall in average goals scored per game with 3.5. On the defensive side, they performed admirably, landing in the top 10 for average goals against per game with 2.57. Their goaltenders ranked 11th overall in save percentage, stopping 90.4% of shots on net. Additionally, they excelled on the penalty kill, boasting the fourth-best percentage in the NHL at 82.6%.

Prediction