The New Jersey Devils pay a visit to the San Jose Sharks today, in the final game of the Devils’ road trip. New Jersey (24-14-3) is looking to bounce back after three straight losses to the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. That said, the Devils have not played since the 3-0 loss to the Kings on Wednesday, so the team has had some time to work out some of the kinks.
The last time these two teams played was on Nov. 10, when the Sharks shutout the Devils 1-0. Nico Sturm scored the lone goal of the game and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 44 shots for the win. The Sharks will be without both players today. Sturm is out with a lower-body injury on Thursday and Blackwood isn’t even wearing teal anymore.
Luckily for the Sharks, William Eklund is ready to return from the injured reserve list. He’ll be back in the lineup today. Jake Walman is still injured and was placed on the injured reserve list in Eklund’s place.
On the Devil’s side of things, the only player out with injury is former Sharks’ prospect Santeri Hatakka, who is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Former Shark Timo Meier is fourth on the Devils in scoring with 28 points in 40 games. Jesper Bratt leads the team with 47 points in 41 games. Jack Hughes is also on a more than point per game pace. He has 46 points in 41 games. Nico Hischier leads the team with 18 goals. While former Shark Stefan Noesen is second with 16 goals.
The Devils are getting solid goaltending from Jacob Markstrom, who was one of the NHL’s three stars for the month of December. Markstrom won eight games in December and finished with a 1.30 goals against average and .937 save percentage. For the season, Markstrom has a 19-7-2 record with a 2.15 goals against average and .912 save percentage.
San Jose Sharks lines today
With Sturm out with his injury, Luke Kunin is expected to center the fourth line. Here’s what the Sharks’ lines look like, according to NHL.com. Notice that the Lund Line is reunited, the young kids — Collin Graf, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith — are playing together, and Shakir Mukhamadullin is another healthy scratch. Yaroslav Askarov gets his second consecutive start.
Forwards
William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Collin Graf – Macklin Celebrini – Will Smith
Klim Kostin – Alexander Wennberg – Tyler Toffoli
Barclay Goodrow – Luke Kunin – Nikolai Kovalenko
Defense
Henry Thrun – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Timothy Liljegren
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Jan Rutta
Goaltenders
Yaroslav Askarov
Alexandar Georgiev
New Jersey Devils lines vs. San Jose Sharks
With the Devils well rested, the team will likely start Markstrom in net. Here are the NHL.com projected lines for the Devils today.
Forwards
Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Stefan Noesen
Paul Cotter – Erik Haula – Dawson Mercer
Tomas Tatar – Curtis Lazar – Nathan Bastian
Defense
Brenden Dillon – Dougie Hamilton
Jonas Siegenthaler – Johnathan Kovacevic
Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Goaltenders
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
How to watch New Jersey Devils at San Jose Sharks Jan. 4, 2025
The puck drops at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET at SAP Center in San Jose.
Sharks fans can watch on NBC Sports California or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
Devils fans can watch the game on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
