The New Jersey Devils are set to face off against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at the Prudential Center, marking the first meeting between the two teams this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST. This game is the final contest of a four-game homestand for the Devils before they head out on a two-game road trip against Atlantic Division rivals.

Adding an extra layer of excitement to the game, forward Angus Crookshank is expected to make his Devils debut. Crookshank signed a two-year deal with the team as a free agent on July 2nd, after spending four seasons with the Belleville Senators, the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. He has a two-way contract in the first year, worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $425,000 ($475,000 guaranteed) at the AHL level, while the second year is a one-way contract worth $775,000.

The 26-year-old winger made his NHL debut on December 17, 2023 and has played 21 NHL games, recording four points. This season, Crookshank has been playing with the Utica Comets, the Devils' AHL affiliate, where he has tallied seven points (five goals and two assists) in 17 games. His performance in Utica has earned him this opportunity with the NHL club, where he is expected to bring energy and a net-front presence to the Devils' fourth line, potentially playing alongside Luke Glendening and Stefan Noesen.

The Devils are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. In their most recent game, they suffered a 3-0 shutout loss against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who stopped 25 of 28 shots in the loss to the Stars, is expected to start in net again. The Devils have struggled recently, dropping six of their last nine games and averaging 2.4 goals per game while allowing 3.3 goals per game.

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights are coming off a 4-3 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, extending their points streak to nine of their last 11 games. During this stretch, they have been averaging 2.9 goals per game while allowing 3.1 goals per game. The Golden Knights have won their last two games and are looking to continue their success on this East Coast road trip, which includes a stop against the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Key players to watch for the Golden Knights include Jack Eichel, who has a point in each of his previous games against the Devils. In those matchups, he scored a goal in one game and had two assists in the other.

Projected lines for the game are as follows:

• Golden Knights:

  • Barbashev-Eichel-Bowman
  • Marner-Howden-Stone
  • Saad-Hertl-Dorofeyev
  • Reinhardt-Sissons-Kolesar
  • McNabb-Theodore
  • Hanifin-Whitecloud
  • Hutton-Korczak
  • Hart
  • Schmid

  • Devils:

  • Meier-Hischier-Bratt

  • Palat-Mercer-Gritsyuk
  • Cotter-Glass-Brown
  • Lammikko-Glendening-Noesen
  • Siegenthaler-Hamilton
  • Dillon-L. Hughes
  • Cholowski-Nemec
  • Markstrom
  • Allen

The Devils will need to leverage their speed and aggressive play to exploit the Golden Knights' defense. Getting pucks through for second and third opportunities will be crucial, especially against Vegas's potentially shaky goaltending. For the Golden Knights, capitalizing on opportunities behind the Devils' net and establishing a strong forecheck will be key to disrupting New Jersey's offensive flow.