{"id":402143,"date":"2026-01-11T18:44:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T18:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/402143\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T18:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T18:44:12","slug":"devils-gameday-preview-taking-on-the-jets-in-winnipeg-the-hockey-writers-new-jersey-devils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/402143\/","title":{"rendered":"Devils Gameday Preview: Taking on the Jets in Winnipeg – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Sunday, Jan. 11, the\u00a0New Jersey Devils<\/a>\u00a0are getting ready to take on the Winnipeg Jets. The Devils extended their losing streak to three straight games when they fell 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. Let\u2019s see if they can finally get on the right track on this road trip.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Related: Devils\u2019 Stefan Noesen to Undergo Knee Surgery<\/a><\/p>\n

The Jets just snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 5-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings. This game marks the penultimate of a five-game homestand for the Jets. With a win in front of a hometown crowd on Friday, they\u2019ll look to repeat this tonight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Devils Storylines\u00a0<\/p>\n

The biggest news story heading into this game is the return of\u00a0Johnathan Kovacevic<\/a>. He has yet to play a game this season, as he suffered a knee injury in the playoffs last season against the Carolina Hurricanes. He needed surgery and was recovering from it throughout the offseason and the beginning of this season.<\/p>\n

Kovacevic has been a participant in several Devils\u2019 practices already, which was a strong indicator that he was getting closer to a return. At New Jersey\u2019s practice ahead of this game, head coach Sheldon Keefe\u00a0said if he is ready,<\/a>\u00a0he will play.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"JohnathanJohnathan Kovacevic, New Jersey Devils (Jess Starr<\/a>\/The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

With all points indicating Kovacevic could make his return, the Devils\u00a0decided to scratch<\/a>\u00a0Dougie Hamilton<\/a>\u00a0in this game. This was a tough decision for the Devils, but\u00a0Keefe stated<\/a>\u00a0he is trying to give Simon Nemec an opportunity now that he is back. He is also not willing to take Brett Pesce out of the lineup, which makes sense since he has been stellar for the Devils\u2019 defense as of late. This leaves Hamilton out, and as\u00a0trade rumors circulate,<\/a>\u00a0the prospect of him going to another team grows stronger with this decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kovacevic is not the only player to make a return to the lineup in this game. Forward\u00a0Evgenii Dadonov <\/a>could be back in the lineup if he feels good to do so, too. He was injured in the Devils\u2019 season opener against the Hurricanes with a hand injury, but made his return to the team on Nov. 18. Just four games later, he was injured again. Now, since\u00a0Stefan Noesen<\/a>\u00a0is about to\u00a0undergo knee surgery<\/a>, Dadonov has a spot in the lineup. Hopefully, he doesn\u2019t suffer any more injuries and can keep his spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The player to watch in this game is Dawson Mercer. He has been a large part of the Devils\u2019 offense this season, currently in third place in the overall team point-scoring standings. He scored the one goal against the Hurricanes on Sunday, Jan. 4. Mercer needs to get his offensive power back to try to help the Devils get their first win in four games.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Team Stats<\/p>\n

New Jersey Devils
Season Record: 22-20-2<\/p>\n

Top Scorers: <\/p>\n

Jesper Bratt \u2013 9 goals (G), 24 assists (A), 33 points (P)<\/p>\n

Nico Hischier \u2013 12 G, 20 A, 32 P<\/p>\n

Dawson Mercer \u2013 11 G, 15 A, 26 P<\/p>\n

Timo Meier \u2013 12, G, 13 A, 25 P<\/p>\n

Jack Hughes \u2013 11 G, 14 A, 25 P<\/p>\n

Goalie Stats: <\/p>\n

Jake Allen \u2013 11-10-1, 2.61 goals-against average (GAA), .911 save percentage (SV%)<\/p>\n

Jacob Markstrom \u2013 10-10-1, 3.48 GAA, .878 SV%<\/p>\n

Nico Daws \u2013 1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .968 SV% <\/p>\n

Winnipeg Jets
Season Record: 16-22-5<\/p>\n

Top Scorers:<\/p>\n

Mark Scheifele \u2013 22 G, 30 A, 52 P<\/p>\n

Kyle Connor \u2013 21 G, 31 A, 52 P<\/p>\n

Gabriel Vilardi \u2013 17 G, 22 A, 39 P<\/p>\n

Josh Morrissey \u2013 7 G, 27 A, 34 P<\/p>\n

Nino Niederreiter \u2013 6 G, 10 A, 16 P<\/p>\n

Goalie Stats: <\/p>\n

Connor Hellebuyck \u2013 9-12-4, 2.69 GAA, .901 SV%<\/p>\n

Eric Comrie \u2013 7-9-1, 3.33 GAA, .884 SV%<\/p>\n

Thomas Milic \u2013 0-1-0, 3.46 GAA, .871 SV% <\/p>\n

Projected Lineups\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Subject to change before puck drop)
As per The Hockey Writers\u2019\u00a0projected lineup article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New Jersey Devils<\/p>\n

Jack Hughes \u2014 Nico Hischier \u2014 Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier \u2014 Dawson Mercer \u2014 Evgenii Dadonov
Arseni Gritsyuk \u2014 Cody Glass \u2014 Connor Brown
Ondrej Palat \u2014 Luke Glendening \u2014 Paul Cotter<\/p>\n

Luke Hughes \u2014 Brett Pesce
Jonas Siegenthaler \u2014 Johnathan Kovacevic
Brenden Dillon \u2014 Simon Nemec<\/p>\n

Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen <\/p>\n

Scratched: Dougie Hamilton, Juho Lammikko, Colton White<\/p>\n

Injured: Stefan Noesen, Zack MacEwen, Marc McLaughlin<\/p>\n

Winnipeg Jets<\/p>\n

Kyle Connor \u2014 Mark Scheifele \u2014 Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti \u2014 Jonathan Toews \u2014 Gabriel Vilardi
Nino Niederreiter \u2014 Adam Lowry \u2014 Vladislav Namestnikov
Cole Koepke \u2014 Danil Zhilkin \u2014 Tanner Pearson<\/p>\n

Josh Morrissey \u2014 Dylan Demelo
Dylan Samberg \u2014 Colin Miller
Logan Stanley \u2014 Luke Schenn <\/p>\n

Scratched: Gustav Nyquist <\/p>\n

Injured: Haydn Fleury, Morgan Barron, Neal Pionk<\/p>\n

Next Up for the Devils <\/p>\n

The Devils will conclude their road trip on Monday, Jan. 12, when they take on the Minnesota Wild. <\/p>\n

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