Another big divisional game tonight! LGD!!
MARKY BATTLED
Unfortunately, the Devils were due for an off night at home like this, and they ultimately just couldn’t get Marky the result that he deserved in this game. Nonetheless, it was still encouraging to see Marky give the Devils one of his better starts of the season and a real chance to win this game.
Marky’s 2.08 GSAE was his second-best among his 11 starts this season, which I believe tells the story quite well, as his only better start this season was the game in LA where Marky stood on his head all night (2.76 GSAE). Shelon said it best, the Devils give up 10 in this game if not for Marky!
THE CAPTAIN STAYS HOT
The Captain extended his point streak to 5 GP with his helper on Nemo’s GTG in the first period. This is the most productive five-game stretch (10 PTS in 5 GP) of Nico’s career, and would become his most productive six games with at least a point tonight (11+ PTS in 6 GP). 🔥
TIMO TIME CONTINUES ⏰
Timo’s point streak also hit 5 GP with another goal, his 4th in this streak and 5th over his last 6 GP at Home 🔥
JACKLESS
Now that it has been 8 games, we can start to truly identify some “Jackless” trends. The main one is the Devils' diminishing dominant play in the 2nd period. Without Jack, the 2nd Period has gone from the Devils’ strength (or, even their “crutch” at times), to pure survival mode. 
DILLY’S 1,000th GP! 👏
HUGE congrats to #NJDevils Brenden Dillon, who will become the only active undrafted player to reach 1,000 Career GP tonight! 👏👏👏
— Bryce Salvador (@brycesalvador) December 1, 2025
Tune into @DevilsMSGN for our pregame show at 6:30 p.m. as I chat live with Dilly during warmups!
Quick Hits drop at 6:15 PM! pic.twitter.com/WMU97nFEDT
COLTON WHITE GETS THE NIGHT OFF
With Dennis Cholowski swapping in for Colton White as the 6th D tonight, I wanted to give kudos to Whitey for the excellent job he's done filling in. In fact, his play has been quite remarkable considering he is skating on the right side of the ice, his off-side as a left-shot D.
He has been keeping the game simple, keeping play in front of him, defending hard, boxing out with intensity, and passing to his first option on breakouts, rather than looking for a better, riskier play.
Again, just an outstanding job by Whitey to provide Sheldon with ~12 reliable minutes each game, along with a +1 Goal DIFF WOI! Now, it's Cholo's turn again!!
ANOTHER TIGHT ONE IN THE MAKING?
CBJ has played the 2nd most one-goal games this season (17) & T-3rd most OT games (10) of any team. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if this one comes down to the wire again, just like it did in the first meeting back on Oct. 13 (3-2 NJD W).
MARCHENKO REMAINS OUT
The Devils have dodged a major bullet by the fact that Kirill Marchenko will not return to the lineup tonight due to an upper-body injury. In CBJ’s 3 GP so far without Marchenko, they are winless (0-1-2) and are struggling to score goals, having only scored 5 total goals in his absence. Keep it that way!!
DANGEROUS OFFENSIVE TEAM
CBJ's offensive process is creating the 7th-highest rate of expected goals, yet they are finishing at the 7th-lowest rate (#26). They are generating the 5th and 8th-highest rates of shots and shots from the slot, respectively, and are deadly off the rush, with the 4th-highest rush chance rate.
- Now, yes, Marchenko is arguably the biggest contributor to some of these ranks being so high, but the Devils will need the same performance they got from Jake Allen the first time these two teams met. The only difference is that we need Jake not to cramp up after the second period this time! 😉
WERENSKI WATCH
Zach Werenski is playing some of his best hockey right now, as he has 5 Goals and 11 total PTS in his last 7 GP. This is a guy who finished second in Norris voting last season for a reason; you cannot let him control the game.
WOODY FINDING SUCCESS
Former Devil, Miles Wood, is off to his fastest offensive start since leaving the Devils (6-2–8 PTS in 19 GP). It’s great to see Woody find some early success with his new team after they acquired him via trade from COL over the offseason, but hopefully, we aren’t talking about him much tonight!
Join Rachel and me for tonight's pregame show at 6:30 p.m.! Can't wait to chat with Dilly before his big night – Get him the W!!
-Sal
