G3 New Jersey Devils vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: A familiar foe

Sheldon Keefe will coach against his former team for the first time on Thursday night.

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A few notes to get you set for New Jersey vs. Toronto:

Old face, new place

Tonight’s game is noteworthy for a variety of reasons. It’s the Devils’ home opener, it’s against a perennial top team in the Eastern Conference, and there is a remarkable amount of elite talent on both sides.

It’s also Sheldon Keefe’s first game coaching against his former squad.

He could downplay how much that matters until the cows come home. The reality is he spent nearly 10 years with the Toronto organization coaching the Marlies and then Maple Leafs. This game matters to Keefe – and his players know it.

Even after flying halfway across the world, I don’t think this is a spot where the Devils are going to come out flat and lay an egg.

They have extra motivation to hit the ground running for their new coach – and the crowd should only fuel them further.

I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if this game is played with a level of intensity you don’t often see in the regular season. I expect a competitive, hard-fought contest that features some real animosity.

Stealing the show