This Sunday, Oct. 27, the New Jersey Devils will take on the Anaheim Ducks on home ice. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. The Devils are currently 5-4-2, while the Ducks stand at 3-2-1.
The Devils are playing significantly better than the Ducks as we are only a few games into the 2024-2025 season. As of this week, the Ducks only have won three games which happened to be against the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and against the Utah Hockey Club. While the Devils have won five games, one of the Devils games went into overtime for the first time this season against the Washington Capitals, 6-5 last Saturday Oct. 19. Another being the New York Islanders, this past Friday losing 4-3 in overtime.
Last year, the Anaheim Ducks beat the Devils in both regulation games that were played. The Ducks winning 5-1 in December and 4-3 in March. Those two games were quite a show. With one coming in very close and the other having slim chances to none.
In the 2023-2024 season the New Jersey Devils ended the year with their record being 38-39-5, averaging in 81 points. The Ducks went 27-50-5, averaging in 59 points. With a significant difference in stats, the Devils had much more points.
Last year, Frank Vatrano from the Anaheim Ducks scored the most goals last season coming in at 37, while he played all 82 games. Troy Terry and Cam Fowler tied in points of assists, with both sharing 34. Fowler played 5 more games than Terry. The New Jersey Devils Timo Meier scored the most goals of the season, coming in with 28. Left wing, Jesper Bratt played all 82 games and was the only New Jersey Devil to do that last year and he holds the most assists that season, with that number being 56.
The last few games for the New Jersey Devils have been pretty rough. Losing four games and having two losses in overtime. Most were very close games, but the team was not on point with saves. The Devils have been looking sloppy and slow.
The Ducks have also been struggling to win games but they happened to beat the Utah Hockey Club in overtime just a few days ago, as previously mentioned. Beating the Utah Hockey Club is impressive for the Anaheim Ducks as Utah was undefeated for quite some time, at 3-0.
This year, the Ducks’ Troy Terry, leads the team in goals, while Mason McTavish is leading the team in assists.
The Devils, Nico Hischier is leading the team in goals and Jesper Bratt is leading in assists.
Both teams have great player advantages, but let’s see which team will perform better together that night.
Best advised to keep your eyes on Devils, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier. They have been playing strong, sharp, and quick.