Sabres vs. Devils | How to watch, storylines, and projected lineup

Storylines

1. Ruff’s return

The primary recreation of this season can be Lindy Ruff’s 1,166th as coach of the Sabres, constructing upon the franchise document he set from 1997 to 2013. It additionally occurs to return towards the group Ruff coached most lately, having led the Devils from 2020 to March of final season.

Ruff has preached work ethic and a dedication to non-negotiable particulars for the reason that begin of camp. The gamers have purchased in enthusiastically, which Thompson believes led to offense throughout their three high-scoring exhibition wins.

“I believe the little issues add up over the course of a recreation whether or not it’s monitoring, your battles within the D zone,” Thompson stated. “I assumed our consideration to element was actually stable, after which clearly I believe you see plenty of the outcomes. We began getting offense with irritating groups. It’s going to be a staple of our recreation and one thing we’ve to proceed transferring ahead.”

2. Sabres debuts

Tonight will mark the Sabres debuts for forwards Jason Zucker, Ryan McLeod, Beck Malenstyn, Sam Lafferty, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, all of whom have been introduced in in the course of the summer season so as to add velocity, physicality, and offensive depth to the lineup.

The early returns have been profitable. Malenstyn, Lafferty, and Aube-Kubel have performed collectively on a line for the reason that begin of coaching camp and produced targets in all three preseason video games whereas displaying their hard-hitting, forechecking id.

McLeod and Zucker, in the meantime, have shaped a line with winger Jordan Greenway. That trio has earned reward from Ruff for his or her dedication to element defensively.

“A pair guys who’re actually good defenders,” Ruff stated. “They’ve received good velocity. … I actually really feel just like the offensive half will fall into place. I’m not frightened about that. I’ve appreciated the best way they performed.”

3. Scouting the Devils

New Jersey enters its first 12 months beneath coach Sheldon Keefe, who beforehand led the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019 by the top of final season. After tying for seventh within the NHL with 553 mixed targets in the course of the previous two seasons, the group made a splash in objective with the acquisition of Jacob Markstrom from Calgary.

The Devils additionally added Brendan Dillon and Brett Pesce to their protection corps, although the latter didn’t make the journey to Prague as a result of an damage.

“I believe they’re fairly stable on the again finish,” Thompson stated. “It’s not going to be simple attending to the web and scoring these soiled targets. You’re gonna need to struggle in your offense. After which on the flip aspect of issues, I believe clearly they’ve been a powerhouse so far as offense.

“They’ve received (Jack) Hughes, (Jesper) Bratt, (Dawson) Mercer, guys who can skate and make performs. I believe for us it’s simply specializing in our recreation, ensuring have been staying above them. Making it exhausting on them, no simple performs, preserve it to the surface of the ice. I believe from there you frustrate guys like that, and that’s the place the offense comes.”