Overview
- Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. ET at Prudential Center, with regional TV on MSG Sportsnet and MSG Western New York and streaming on Fubo.
- The Devils face long playoff odds at roughly 2.4% with 25 games remaining, sitting 11 points out of a spot after entering the break on a three-game skid.
- After scoring Team USA’s Olympic golden goal and totaling four goals and seven points, Hughes returned from a White House visit, missed morning skate, and is anticipated to play.
- New Jersey’s offense has cratered to 31st in goals per game (2.51) with a minus-29 goal differential and one of the NHL’s worst high-danger shooting rates, as injuries push man-games lost to 255.
- Buffalo enters 32-19-6 following a 21-4-2 surge before the pause, led by Tage Thompson (30 goals, 59 points) and goaltender Alex Lyon (.912 SV%, 2.72 GAA), with the season series split 1-1.