Hey, Devils Fans!
Another big test coming up at the Rock... Here are a few storylines I'll be watching tonight (optimistically!) as the Devils look to snap this 3-game losing streak.
CAN'T KEEP CONCEDING GOALS IN BUNCHES
We are starting to see a trend of the Devils conceding 3+ Goals in a single period, which has happened in two of the three games on this 3-game losing streak and in 6 of their 10 regulation losses this season.
Now, yes, the 3 Goals AG in the 3rd Period of the CBJ game can be overlooked as an “emotional one-off,” but the point remains the same: They are not stopping the bleeding quickly enough after Goals AG, and it’s burying them in games that they would otherwise have a chance to get points out of.
BRATTER'S PRODUCING, BUT STILL SNAKEBITTEN
Despite 10 assists in the 10 GP since Jack’s injury – outstanding – Bratter is looking to snap a 13-Game Goal Drought, which is his longest since 2020-21, and would become his longest since his rookie season if extended to 14 GP tonight. He's just been snakebitten!
UNCHARACTERISTIC STRETCH FOR DOUGIE
It’s no secret that the Devils need more from Dougie, as he, too, is looking to snap a long goal drought (13 GP), and quite frankly, an extremely uncharacteristic stretch of hockey since coming back from injury. In the 9 GP since returning to the lineup, he only has one point (0-1–1) and has taken 5 minor penalties.
Doing some digging on this, I had to go all the way back to December of 2018, when Dougie was with CAR, in order to find a span of 9 GP where he’s had similar numbers (5+ minor penalties & no more than 1 point).
My reasoning for digging into this is from experience, when my rate of minor penalty minutes went up uncharacteristically, I was typically fighting my game. So, I wanted to see if this might be the case for Dougie, too. Yes, extremely anecdotal, but perhaps not.
JACKLESS 2nd PERIODS
It seems like a lot of you guys were intrigued (rightfully so!) by this graphic we showed on the air on Monday regarding one of the ‘Jackless’ trends I’ve been talking about, which is the diminishing dominant play in the 2nd period.
It is a staggering trend, to say the least, but it just goes to show the “one-man machine” (as Sheldon called him) and irreplaceable puck transporter that Jack is. 
LINE CHANGES
Sheldon put the lines in a blender this morning, as he looks to shake things up tonight! (Maybe Bratter will snap one home!)
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) December 5, 2025
ANGUS CROOKSHANK
Among the two personnel changes will be Angus Crookshank, making his NJD Debut, slotting in for Lammikko. As Sheldon talked about, Crookshank is a guy who has some NHL experience and can put pucks in the back of the net if scoring chances come his way, and he’s made a living in the AHL doing just that. He led the Belleville Senators in goals each of the last three seasons there, and is the second-leading goalscorer in Utica this season (5-2–7 PTS in 17 GP).
COLTON WHITE
The other personnel change made was the reinsertion of Colton White, who will come in for Cholowski and be paired with Nemo tonight. I’ve talked a lot about how invaluable Whitey’s play has been as the 6th D, and tonight will be a great opportunity for him to play on his strong side as opposed to his off-side, which he had been outstanding on before coming out of the lineup.
As I talked about when he originally came out of the lineup, Whitey 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.
Hopefully, he continues to provide Sheldon with 12 reliable minutes each game and maintains a positive Goal DIFF WOI, which has been +1 thru 8 GP!
CAPTAIN STONE
Captain Mark Stone has not played a full season since the pandemic, but he’s been their heartbeat when he’s been in the lineup. This season, he has played in only 10 GP — 4 straight since returning — and has recorded at least a point in all 10 (4-13–17 PTS). The Devils have to be aware of his ability to impact the game and the emotional boost he provides his team. Hopefully, they will put an end to that streak tonight!
5-FWD PP1 UNIT
VGK is one of few teams that deploy a 5-FWD PP unit (Marner, Eichel, Stone, Hertl, Dorofeyev). It is anchored by Marner, the big-fish add from the offseason, who QBs from the blueline.
Whenever you have the opportunity to put together a 5-FWD unit with this type of personnel, it can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy, but it is certainly returning high rewards so far. In just 33:42 of PP TOI together, this unit has already put up 10 PPGs, without conceding a SHG.
VGK's PP, as a team, enters tonight red-hot, clicking at nearly 30% (29.6%) over the last 10 GP, so it will be critical that the Devils stay out of the box again like they did vs. DAL (PK killed 1/1). I speak for Dano, Rachel, Don, and myself when I say we would rather not have to talk about this unit much on the air tonight!!!
HISTORICALLY FUN MATCHUP
7 games have been played all-time between NJD & VGK at the Rock… 6 of which have been decided by one goal (excluding one ENG Vegas scored), and all 3 of the Devils’ wins in those games were CBWs in OT, including one thanks to this CLUTCH pair of goals by Dougie back in 2023! 🎥 ⤵️
(I think what history is trying to tell us here is that Dougie will snap his goal drought, and the Devils will end the homestand and losing streak with a gutsy W!) 😂 🙏
Join Rachel and me for tonight's pregame show at 6:30 p.m. as we deep dive into these NJD-related trends and show some video examples. Should be a fun one; LGD!
-Sal
Here's an additional graphic from Wednesday night's broadcast!
