Scouting Report: Devils Host Blue Jackets At Prudential Center

By Kyle Morrison on December 8, 2017 at 7:05 am
Taylor Hall celebrates a Devils goal against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena
USA Today Sports – Russell LaBounty
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Columbus Blue Jackets (17–10–1) vs. New Jersey Devils (16–7–4)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017, 7 p.m. (PRUDENTIAL CENTER)

For the second time this week, the Jackets will face the red hot New Jersey Devils, this time in the Garden State. The Devils out-skated and out-worked the Jackets in the last matchup, a game they won 4-1 at Nationwide Arena.

The Devils are led by superstar forward Taylor Hall, acquired in a one-for-one trade prior to last season for defenseman Adam Larsson. The former first overall pick has 29 points in 27 games for New Jersey – nine more than the next highest scorer on his team. That runner-up just so happens to be his linemate, the 18-year-old Nico Hischier. The two former first overall picks have hit it off, and are joined by 19-year-old Jesper Bratt, who has broken out for 19 points over the first 27 games of his career.

Cory Schneider's numbers haven't been Vezina-worthy this year, but he's one of the game's top goaltenders, as he showed on Tuesday when he stopped 40 of 41 CBJ shots.

You Oughta Know: Brian Gibbons

You may already know Brian Gibbons, who played 25 games for the 2014-15 Blue Jackets. He signed in Columbus after skating on Sidney Crosby's line in the 2014 playoffs for the Penguins – so Columbus got an up-close look – but the diminutive forward never quite stuck in Columbus, registering just five points.

It's been a completely different story in New Jersey. He hadn't played in the NHL since his time in Columbus – it's been three years –  but he hit the ground running for New Jersey, settling in on the third line left wing. He actually leads New Jersey with 11 goals and has two shorthanded goals – including this one that came 5-on-3.

 

 

Fast Facts
  • Gibbons isn't the only former Jacket on the New Jersey's roster. Defensemen John Moore and Dalton Prout (expected to be a healthy scratch) are also on the Metro-leading Devils.
  • The Devils recently acquired defenseman Sami Vatanen from the Ducks (giving up forwards Adam Henrique and Joseph Blandisi), and he's still looking for his first point with the club.
  • New Jersey is currently leading the division, but hasn't made the playoffs since 2011-12, when they fell in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Los Angeles Kings.
Previous Matchups

THIS YEAR: Devils won the first matchup, and lead the series 1-0-0.
ALL TIME SERIES: Blue Jackets lead 15-13-1-1

Keys to the Game

ONE: Screen Schneider and get rebounds. Tortorella said that the Blue Jackets got zero second-chance shots on Tuesday, despite getting 41 shots on net. That needs to change – and when you're playing a goalie as good as Schneider, you can't rely on clean goals. Get some greasy ones. 

TWO: Do whatever the power play equivalent is of a rain dance. At this point, Columbus will take voodoo or a kickstarter or some tarot cards. Whatever works! They're mired in a 2-for-42 stretch with the man advantage. Will that turn around tonight? 

THREE: Don't get into a track meet. The Devils have a ton of speed – particularly on the top line – and the Jackets can't afford to chase the puck all night. Limiting giveaways and controlling possession can go a long way. 

Team Projected Lineup

Forwards
# Player Stats # Player Stats # Player Stats
9 Taylor Hall 27 GP, 9-20-29 13 Nico Hishier 27 GP, 5-15-20 63 Jesper Bratt 27 GP, 9-10-19
90 Marcus Johanssen 13 GP, 3-3-6 19 Travis Zajac 10 GP, 1-0-1 18 Drew Stafford 24 GP, 5-3-8
39 Brian Gibbons 27 GP, 11-4-15 40 Blake Coleman 27 GP, 2-2-4 23 Stefan Noesen 20 GP, 2-2-4
44 Miles Wood 26 GP, 6-5-11 11 Brian Boyle 17 GP, 4-2-6 10 Jimmy Hayes 18 GP, 3-3-6
Defensive Pairs
# Player Stats # Player Stats
6 Andy Greene 26 GP, 2-3-5 45 Sami Vatanen 18 GP, 1-3-4
2 John Moore 27 GP, 3-5-8 28 Damon Severson 26 GP, 3-5-8
8 Will Butcher 27 GP, 2-16-18 16 Steve Santini 23 GP, 1-5-6
Goaltenders
# Player GS W-L-OL GAA SV% SO
35 Cory Schneider 20 11-5-3 2.60 .923 1
1 Keith Kincaid  7 5-2-1 3.29 .896 0


 

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