After an 8-1-0 start to the season, the Devils have been the worst team in the Eastern Conference, plummeting in the standings, going 12-16-2. The Devils hope to end the calendar year on a high note, turning to Allen to tend the twine against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 35-year-old Allen has a solid 2.54 GAA and .910 SV% in 20 games this season (10-8-1). The Devils enter the action as +108 road underdogs against the Blue Jackets.
The Devils will hand Markstrom his 20th start of the season when they travel to Toronto on Tuesday. Markstrom was unfortunate to be tagged with the loss in his last start, stopping 23 of the 25 shots he faced in a 2-1 loss on Long Island last Tuesday. The 36-year-old netminder brings a 9-8-1 record and .883 SV% into Tuesday night's matchup, where the Devils enter action at -130 on the money line.
Allen turned aside 22 of 24 shots in the Devils' loss to the Sabres last Sunday. He may have taken the loss, but Allen has now stopped 88 of 92 shots (.957 SV%) in his last three outings. He'll look to stay hot on Saturday against the Capitals, where New Jersey are -119 home favourites. Allen is 6-3-0 with a 2.49 GAA and .906 SV% on home-ice this year.
The Devils are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games and hope to enter the Holiday Break with a victory, turning to Markstrom to tend the twine against the New York Islanders. The 35-year-old Markstrom has been wildly inconsistent this season, posting an ugly 3.40 GAA and .881 SV% in 18 games (9-7-1). That said, the veteran goalie is coming off one of his better outings, saving 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Utah Mammoth. New Jersey enters Tuesday's contest as -128 road favorites against a New York team on a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).
The Devils are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games and hope to enter the Holiday Break with a victory, turning to Markstrom to tend the twine against the New York Islanders. The 35-year-old Markstrom has been wildly inconsistent this season, posting an ugly 3.40 GAA and .881 SV% in 18 games (9-7-1). That said, the veteran goalie is coming off one of his better outings, saving 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Utah Mammoth. New Jersey enters Tuesday's contest as -128 road favorites against a New York team on a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).
Crookshank appeared in eight straight games for the Devils, scoring one goal on four SOG during that time. He'll come out of the lineup on Sunday to make for Timo Meier (personal) to return to the lineup.
Lammikko played in four straight games, recording two assists, but will be replaced by Jack Hughes, who will play for the first time since mid-November.
Gritsyuk has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but will play Sunday vs. Buffalo. Gritsyuk, who has 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last 17 games, will be one of three key forwards returning to the Devils' lineup on Sunday, with both Jack Hughes and Timo Meier also returning.
Meier missed the last five games due to personal reasons, but will play Sunday vs. Buffalo. Meier, who has nine points (6G / 3A) in his last 10 games, will be one of three key forwards returning to the Devils' lineup on Sunday, with both Jack Hughes and Arseny Gritsyuk also returning.
Hughes returned to the ice on Sunday morning and told reporters after the optional morning skate that he expects to play Sunday vs. Buffalo. Hughes has been out since November 12th after suffering a freak hand injury in a dinner incident. He rejoins the lineup with 20 points (10G / 10A) in 17 games this season.
The Devils will turn to Markstrom between the pipes for the 18th time this season when they travel to Utah on Friday. Markstrom picked up another loss in his last start, allowing two goals on 15 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Canucks on Sunday. The 36-year-old goaltender owns an 8-7-1 record and a disappointing .874 SV% on the season. The Devils enter action on Friday at +120 on the money line.
Allen will make his 17th start of the season when the Devils travel to Vegas on Wednesday. Allen was victorious in his last start, allowing just one goal on 31 shots in a 4-1 win over the Ducks on Saturday. The 35-year-old netminder owns a 9-7-0 record and .907 SV% on the season. Allen and the Devils enter action on Wednesday at +140 on the money line.
Cholowski will take a seat on Wednesday in order to make room for the return of Brett Pesce (upper-body). Cholowski has appeared in 15 games this season, logging zero goals and one assist.
Pesce has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on October 26th, but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 30-year-old defenseman has been a stabilizing force on New Jersey's blueline when healthy, averaging 19:39 time-on-ice and scoring three points (0G / 3A) in nine games.
