The New Jersey Devils return to Prudential Center Wednesday night for a Thanksgiving Eve matchup against the St. Louis Blues in what promises to be a tightly contested game despite the Blues’ struggles this season. The Devils, sitting at 14-7-1, aim to extend their recent momentum after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over Detroit. The team remains second in the Metro Division, just one point behind Carolina, and is in the midst of a grueling schedule that has them playing seven games in 11 days and 11 contests over 18 days. With six of their next seven games at home, New Jersey has turned Prudential Center into a fortress, boasting an 8-0-1 record this season. Fans can follow full team coverage and prospect updates on Explore New Jersey’s New Jersey Devils section.
The Devils held an optional morning skate ahead of the game, with forwards Jesper Bratt, Connor Brown, Paul Cotter, Luke Glendening, Juho Lammikko, defensemen Colton White and Dennis Cholowski, and goalie Jake Allen taking part. Forward Evgenii Dadonov, who left the previous game with an injury, will be unavailable for tonight’s matchup. Head Coach Lindy Ruff noted that further medical updates would be forthcoming. Jacob Markstrom is set to start in net for New Jersey.
Colton White, 28, has been a steady presence on the Devils’ blue line in his limited appearances this season. Reflecting on his NHL journey, White emphasized the importance of consistency and simplicity in his game. “Any day in the NHL is a good day. It’s a privilege to be here. I’m just doing my best day-by-day, whether it’s in practice or in a game, just doing what’s asked of me and trying to contribute any way I can,” he said. White has focused on refining his play to match the faster pace and higher stakes of the NHL, contrasting with his experience in the AHL.
While the Blues rank near the bottom of the NHL standings, their games are anything but easy. Coach Ruff anticipates a physical and tightly checked contest. “It’s going to be tight checking. They only have three regulation losses, and many of their games are going to overtime,” Ruff said. “It’s been similar to how we’ve been playing—chipping away and finding ways to get points. I don’t expect this game to be any different.”
The Devils have been fueled by strong individual performances in recent games. Captain Nico Hischier has four goals in his past four contests and five points in his last two, providing a critical offensive spark. Jesper Bratt continues to lead the team with 22 points, including 17 assists, and has now tied Aaron Broten for eighth place in franchise history with 469 career assists. Timo Meier has contributed five game-opening goals, tying Martin Necas for the NHL lead. Scoring first has been a reliable pattern for New Jersey this season—they are 11-1-1 when striking first.
The Blues, meanwhile, face challenges both offensively and defensively. St. Louis ranks 27th in goals per game at 2.65 and 29th in goals allowed at 3.61, highlighting vulnerabilities the Devils will seek to exploit. Justin Faulk has been one of the Blues’ few bright spots, recording three points over his past three games, including two goals at Philadelphia, and recently celebrated his 1,000th NHL game on November 18.
Injuries remain a factor for both teams. New Jersey will be without Jack Hughes (finger), MacEwen (undisclosed), Pesce (upper body), Kovacevic (knee), and McLaughlin (undisclosed). The Blues are missing Krug (ankle) and Dean (personal).
Adding a touch of nostalgia, the Devils will retire their classic “Jersey” jerseys during Wednesday’s game, paying homage to the team’s storied history while looking ahead to continued success this season. The game promises to deliver high stakes, playoff positioning implications, and thrilling action for Devils fans eager to see their team maintain dominance at Prudential Center.
New Jersey Devils Prospects Shine as Salminen Dominates and Young Talent Emerges. The New Jersey Devils’ prospect pipeline continues to show promise as several young players make waves in collegiate and minor league hockey. Highlighting the latest performances is center Samu Salminen, who delivered a standout showing for Denver, cementing his reputation as one of the organization’s most intriguing prospects. For updates on broader New Jersey sports and political context affecting local athletics, Explore New Jersey’s sports section also tracks developments that influence state-level funding and sports initiatives.
Salminen had a remarkable night on November 21, posting four points—one goal and three assists—against Arizona State, marking the second four-point game of his career. He added another point in the following match, bringing his season total to 11 points in 14 games. This pace puts him on track to surpass his previous career high of 28 points from last season. As a senior, Salminen has the flexibility to sign professionally wherever opportunities arise this summer, though whether his style translates seamlessly to the NHL remains a key question. The Devils could certainly benefit from his addition to their depth at center, potentially bolstering their organizational talent in the coming seasons.
Other Devils prospects are also turning heads with recent hot streaks. After a slow adjustment to North American hockey, Lenni Hammenaho has tallied four points over his last five games with the Utica Comets, demonstrating an increasing comfort at the professional level. Meanwhile, winger David Rozsival has been on fire in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, notching 11 points in 20 games, including two multi-point outings with three goals and five points across consecutive matches. Defenseman Chase Cheslock has contributed consistently, adding two assists this week to bring his total to eight points in 13 games, putting him more than halfway toward matching his collegiate career-high mark of 14. His expanded role at St. Thomas has showcased his development and reliability on the blue line.
Not every prospect is experiencing upward momentum. Goaltender Jakub Malek was reassigned to Adirondack of the ECHL to ensure more playing time, as Utica has relied heavily on netminder Daws. Unfortunately, Daws’ performance hasn’t prevented the Comets from dropping two recent games. Defenseman Anton Silayev has struggled to make an impact, recording just one point in 30 games and experiencing a significant reduction in ice time under the new coaching staff. Winger Josh Filmon remains the only prospect without a point in either Utica or Adirondack, continuing his search for his first contribution.
Off the ice, the Utica Comets have provided fans with moments of levity and community engagement. Recently, defensemen Ethan Edwards and Dmitri Osipov took part in a Bob Ross-style painting session, creating “happy little trees” as part of the team’s Art Night festivities. The lighthearted event highlights the importance of personality, team culture, and fan engagement beyond the rink, reinforcing that player development extends into building character and community ties.
With Samu Salminen’s continued dominance and a handful of prospects heating up, the Devils’ farm system remains a critical part of the organization’s future. Fans, analysts, and the team alike will be watching closely as these young talents navigate the rest of the season, eager to see who might make the leap to the NHL and provide the next wave of impact players for New Jersey. Those following these developments can track additional updates on rising talent and team news through Explore New Jersey’s sports coverage, which often intersects with local sports initiatives and community-level investments in youth and professional athletics.
