Devils Finish Road Trip in Dallas | PREVIEW
NEW JERSEY DEVILS (33-23-6) vs. DALLAS STARS (39-19-2)
New Jersey faces the Dallas Stars in Texas for the only time this season. It’s the fifth and final game of a five-game road trip.
You can watch on ESPN+ or Hulu or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below. Tonight’s game is presented by Nuva Smile.
• TV: ESPN+, Hulu
• RADIO: Devils Hockey Network
The Devils react to Jack’s injury ahead of facing the Dallas Stars without their star player.
DALLAS, TX – The Devils held a full morning skate at Dallas’ American Airlines Center ahead of facing the Stars.
With the absence of Jack Hughes, who was injured late in the third period of Sunday’s game in Vegas, the Devils have done a complete overhaul of their line combinations. They used the following workflow at the morning skate…
Meier – Hischier – Bratt
Palat – Mercer – Tatar
Dowling – Haula – Noesen
Cotter – Lazar – Bastian
Hamilton – Hughes
Pesce – Kovacevic
Dillon – Nemec
(MacDermid) – Casey
“There’s going to be lots of opportunity to have other people step up and do different things and play different spots with different people,” Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “That has some benefits as well. We’ll press on today. We’re playing against a team that’s been playing without very important people too and they don’t miss a beat. That’s what elite teams do. That’s our challenge and our opportunity.”
Jacob Markstrom was the first goalie off the ice, indicating he’ll get the start in goal.
No Hughes Update
The Devils lost superstar center Jack Hughes to an injury late in the third period of a 2-0 loss to Vegas on Sunday night. The team didn’t have any new information regarding his situation.
“He’s continuing to be evaluated. We don’t know the full extent of it yet,” Keefe said. “We’re expecting an update as a result of some tests that he’s had done, but we don’t have those results quite yet.”
No Hughes, No Excuses
There’s no doubt that the Devils will miss the presence of Hughes, who leads the team in goals and scoring. However, injuries are part of the game, and the Devils will ice the team that they have.
“Jack is a very important player and the whole group was feeling for him the other night, myself and the coaching staff included,” Keefe said. “We’ll see how things go here, but after a day off yesterday they’re coming in with a fresh mind today. We played without (Jacob) Markstrom, or without Nico (Hischier), or playing without (Jonas) Siegenthaler. The guys recognize that they have a job to do. We just have to be better as a group to make up for the loss.”
“Everybody knows you have to give more, especially now,” forward Timo Meier said. “No matter the situation we’re in anyway at this point in the season, 20 games left and pushing for a playoff spot. You’re going to face adversity. Just like we have, we have to keep pushing. Our competitiveness has to be very high. Everyone has to add some more to their game. But not overcomplicate stuff. Play the way we know we can play and we’re going to be fine.”
Every team is affected by injuries in the NHL. The test of a good team is the ability to handle injuries while sustaining good play on the ice.
“That’s what good teams do,” Keefe said. “You want to be a team that can sustain itself and its game no matter what’s happening. We’ve had signific injuries of late. We have been able to play through. Yet our team game hasn’t been where we want it to be for the last while. Team game has to get better, individuals have to get better.”
“We have to dig in and find a way. That’s what good teams do when a big player goes out,” captain Nico Hischier said. “They find another gear. They find a way to play for these guys that are not in the lineup. We’re trying to do that here.”
THE SCOOP
The Devils are finishing a five-game road trip in Dallas. The team is 2-2-0 so far with wins in Nashville and Utah and losses in Colorado and Vegas.
Devils center Jack Hughes suffered an injury late in the third period in Vegas after crashing into the boards. Although no update was available, head coach Sheldon Keefe said “obviously, it didn’t look good.” His availability is unknown at this time. Hughes is the teams leader in goals and points.
New Jersey did get goaltender Jacob Markstrom back into the fold. He returned after missing nearly six weeks with an MCL sprain against Vegas and turned aside 22 of 24 shots against.
The Stars are fighting for home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup playoffs. While it’s unlikely they’ll catch Central Division-leader Winnipeg (88 points), Dallas (80 points) does have an edge on third-place Minnesota (74). The Stars have come out of the 4 Nations break with a 4-1-0 record.
Forward Matt Duchene leads the team in every offensive category with 25 goals, 37 assists and 62 points. The Stars have four 20-goal scorers (Jason Robertson, 25; Roope Hintz, 24; Wyatt Johnston, 21). They also have nine players in double digit goals. Dallas ranks 4th in the NHL in offense with 3.40 goals per game and 3rd in defense at 2.57 goals allowed per game.
The defense is led by 23-year-old Thomas Harley, who has 35 points on the year. Goalie Jake Oettinger has led the way in net, though Casey DeSmith has proven a capable backup.
WHO’S HOT
Devils: Devils captain Nico Hischier has four points in his last four games, including a three-assist night. Hischier, who recorded his 400th point against Utah on March 1, has 10 points (5g-5a) in his past 10 games overall.
Stars: Wyatt Johnston posted a hat trick – with all three goals coming on the power play – against St. Louis in the team’s previous game. He’s riding a 6-game scoring streak for 10 points (6g-4a), and has points in his last 12 home games. Johnston has a four-game scoring streak against the Devils (3g-3a).
INJURIES
Devils: Siegenthaler (unknown, IR), J.Hughes (undisclosed)
Stars: Seguin (hip, LTIR), Lundkvist (shoulder, LTIR), Heiskanen (lower-body), Bichsel (concussion)
REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS
GAME NOTES
MORNING SKATE RECAP
More News
STATS LEADERS
Hamilton Hurt in Dallas | INJURY UPDATE 3/4/25
LIVE UPDATES: Stars 3, Devils 1
Devils Acquire LaChance | RELEASE
Devils Announce Five-Year Expansion Deal with CrowdPlay for Black and Red Rewards | RELEASE
No Update Yet on Hughes | INJURY UPDATE
Devils Fall to Vegas in Markstrom’s Return to Lineup | GAME STORY
QUICK RECAP: Golden Knights 2, Devils 0
Markstrom Activated from IR | TRANSACTIONS
Devils Upend Utah | GAME STORY
QUICK RECAP: Devils 3, Utah 1
Catching Up | 10 TAKEAWAYS
Luke Hughes Rounding Out Game on PK | FEATURE
Devils Take the Ice at Utah Olympic Oval | NOTEBOOK
Yegorov Standing Strong in College Hockey | FEATURE
16 All-Time Best Devils Trades | STAN’S LISTS
The Ultimate Christmas Gift | FEATURE
Devils Bested by Avs | GAME STORY
QUICK RECAP: Avalanche 5, Devils 1
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WATCH & LISTEN
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• TV: ESPN+, Hulu • RADIO: Devils Hockey Network |
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GAME-DAY VIDEO
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Devils Minute: Rallying Together
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Pre-Game Interview with Sheldon Keefe
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BY THE NUMBERS
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STATS LEADERS
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DEVILS
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STARS
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Goals
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J.Hughes, 27
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Duchene, Robertson, 25
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Assists
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Bratt, 51
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Duchene, Granlund, 37
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Points
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J.Hughes, 70
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Duchene, 62
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Game Preview #63: New Jersey Devils at Dallas Stars
FILED UNDER:
With Jack Hughes expected to be out of the lineup, the Devils will have to find a way through defense and goaltending.
The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (33-23-6) at the Dallas Stars (39-19-2).
The Broadcast: Streaming: ESPN+, Hulu, Disney+; Audio: Devils Hockey Radio
The Time: 8:00 PM ET
I was really looking forward to March. With Jacob Markstrom returning from an injury, March was going to be a lengthy string of tests against top playoff teams. With the recent game against Vegas in addition to matches against Dallas, Winnipeg, Minnesota, and Edmonton, the Devils having all of their best players in the lineup would have been a good way to test themselves in preparation for April. Alas, without Jack Hughes in the lineup, the Devils will have to figure out how to line their top six up.
The clear answer, in my opinion, is to run a Bratt-Hischier-Meier top line to start the game. If it turns out that Dallas is able to zero in on this line and stop them from generating offense, then Keefe could split them up. But in their time together on the Devils, this line has generated over four goals per 60 minutes. As long as they can provide an offensive boost while maintaining good defensive play, they might be able to set the tone for the rest of the team, which can play good enough defense to win a 2-1 or 3-2 game.
Led by former Devils coach Peter DeBoer, the Dallas Stars are a very well-rounded team. With a 52.16 xGF% at five-on-five, the Stars sit just above the Devils at eighth. With the fourth-best per-game 5v5 offense at 2.79 goals for and the 14th best even strength defense at 2.33 goals against per 60 minutes, the Stars really separate themselves from the pack with their penalty kill. With a penalty kill that only allows 5.28 goals per 60 minutes (the Devils are fifth at 6.22), the Stars rank fourth and third in all-situation offense and defense.
It’s June 13th, 2014. We’re in L.A. where the hometown Kings are battling the New York Rangers in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Tied at two, nearly 15 minutes into a second overtime. Someone’s gotta score. If LA can take control of the puck, every shot attempt has the chance to bring them their second Cup in three years. Their road has been anything but straightforward, they’ve overcome the odds with absurd regularity, in large part thanks to Jonathan Quick – their man between the pipes. If the Rangers can get another past him they’ll not only live to see game six but potentially steal the momentum of a series that could easily be in their control. If they can fully pull off the comeback, it would be the final feather in the already feather-filled cap of one of the most impressive goaltenders we’ve ever seen.
That said, the Devils need not worry if a few penalties go uncalled tonight — they might actually be better off at even strength. As long as the officials let the Devils have as much leeway as they give Dallas, I would prefer to see these teams stay out of the box. Regardless of who is in net, both teams have excellent goaltending duos. The Stars have a team save percentage of 90.69%, just above the Devils at 90.67%. Whether it’s Jake Oettinger and Jacob Markstrom or Casey DeSmith and Jake Allen, these teams should expect good performances in net.
I often regard Dallas as an ideal example of Western Conference hockey. They are built rather large, with nine players over 6’3” and 205 pounds, and only five players 5’11” or shorter and under 200 pounds (Matt Duchene is listed at a hearty 212 pounds). Still, Dallas will not have all of their players in the lineup. Tyler Seguin, Nils Lundkvist, and Miro Heiskanen are all still on injured reserve. Since Heiskanen’s injury at the end of January, Dallas has regressed to the 19th-ranked all-situational defense — but they have scored a whopping 4.66 goals a game to go 7-2-1, anyway.
With their depth on the back-end and tough roster, Dallas has continued to score goals and win games regardless of the challenge. With how well Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell have played, they have been able to overcome the loss of Heiskanen. Meanwhile, Mikael Granlund has provided their middle six with a playmaking boost with seven assists in nine games, joining an offense led by Matt Duchene, Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Roope Hintz, who have all surpassed the 20-goal mark just 60 games into their season. Hopefully, the Devils can shut those guys down enough to get at least a point out of tonight’s game, and they can learn a thing about team resiliency from Dallas in the process.
What do you think of tonight’s game? Will the Devils have anyone step up? Do you think anyone will rise to the occasion in Jack’s place? Will Dawson Mercer be our second line center? Should Keefe go top-heavy or should he spread the talent out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
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Devils vs Stars Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game
Without Jack Hughes, the New Jersey Devils will need volume shooting in their lineup and Dougie Hamilton is the player to call on to take full advantage of the Dallas Stars who haven’t been strong defensively as of late.
This article contains predictions for an old game!
The New Jersey Devils will begin life without superstar Jack Hughes with a tough road test against the powerhouse Dallas Stars.
My Devils vs. Stars predictions see Dougie Hamilton stepping up offensively and taking advantage of a strong positional matchup.
Let’s break things down further with my March 4 NHL picks.
My best bet
Dougie Hamilton Over 2.5 shots (-120 at FanDuel)
My analysis
Dougie Hamilton is one of the best volume shooters in the league at his position. Only Cale Makar and Zach Werenski have piled up more shots, shot attempts, or scoring chances than Hamilton.
Hamilton has fired at will since returning from the 4 Nations break, averaging 4.2 shots on 8.8 attempts over the course of five games.
The New Jersey Devils will need Hamilton to continue providing that sort of output without Jack Hughes in the lineup. Hughes leads the Devils in goals, assists, points, shots, shot attempts, and scoring chances so there is a lot of slack to be picked up.
Hamilton showed the ability to step up the last time he was healthy when Hughes wasn’t, averaging 3.6 shots on goal while producing five points over five games.
He is in a sneaky-good spot to provide that kind of offense. The Dallas Stars have defended alarmingly bad without Miro Heiskanen, ranking 30th in shots and 31st in expected goals against since he suffered his injury.
Dallas has conceded a ton of volume to defensemen in that span. Only four teams have allowed more shots to the position over the last 10 games.
Hamilton faced the Stars exactly two weeks ago and recorded eight shots on 16 attempts. I wouldn’t expect that level of volume again but, in a great matchup with more on his plate offensively, Hamilton should be in for another active shooting performance.
Dougie Hamilton Over 2.5 shots
Timo Meier Over 2.5 shots
Under 6.5
Timo Meier is another player who stands to benefit from Hughes’ absence. He certainly did a season ago, averaging 4.2 shots on 7.5 attempts while recording 3+ shots in 67% of his games.
Meier will be more heavily relied upon at 5v5 and also figures to be promoted to the top power play unit, giving him more ice in opportune offensive situations.
It’s also worth noting Meier has a great track record against the Stars. He’s cleared 2.5 shots in five straight games, including a four shot performance just a couple weeks ago.
An alternate under stands out to me as the cherry on top. The Devils have consistently played in low-scoring games, as evidenced by their 21-39-2 O/U record on the year.
Take out Jack Hughes, who leads the team in every single meaningful offensive category, while adjusting the total for an extra goal of insurance and it’s even more appealing.
Just one of the last 10 Devils games has featured more than six goals.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Moneyline
Total
Puck Line
20:00 ET
NJ
DAL
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View all NHL odds
Dougie Hamilton has cleared 2.5 shots in four straight against Dallas, averaging five shots per game. Find more NHL betting trends for Devils vs. Stars.
Dallas Stars
Player Position Status
Tyler Seguin C
Out – Hip
Reported: Tue, February 25
Miro Heiskanen D
Out – Knee
Reported: Tue, February 4
Nils Lundkvist D
Out For Season – Upper Body
Reported: Sat, February 1
New Jersey Devils
Player Position Status
Jack Hughes C
Day To Day – Undisclosed
Reported: Sun, March 2
Jonas Siegenthaler D
Out – Lower-body
Reported: Tue, February 18
Not intended for use in MA.
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Todd Cordell is a data-driven betting analyst. He uses numbers to help identify value across a wide variety of sports, with NHL being his specialty. Shot props, in particular, have proven to be a very fruitful market. Todd has served as a betting analyst in the public sphere for many years, most recently with theScore covering the NHL and MLB.
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| Location | American Airlines Center, Dallas |
| Date | Tuesday, 3-4-2025 |
| Puck drop | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+, HULU, Disney+ |
