G6 New Jersey Devils @ New York Islanders: One final audition

The Devils are icing a very young lineup filled with players on the roster bubble. Who will step up?

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A few notes to get you set for tonight’s game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders:

A stiff test for the goalies

Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek have been good this preseason. Very good, even.

They’ve both posted save percentages above .940 while seeing nearly an identical amount of shots. Blackwood has faced significantly more shots per minute, while the latter has faced more of higher quality.

Things are about to get more difficult. The Devils are opting to dress almost every player destined for Utica – or on the roster bubble – against an Islanders team expected to play plenty of its regulars.

That means they are going to be on their heels a lot in this game and – with so little firepower – getting Blackwood and/or Vanecek run support is going to be difficult.

If the Devils are to hang around, or perhaps even steal a win, they need very good goaltending once again.

This will be a good test for the goalies as they try and give the coaches some form of clarity as to who should get the nod in goal opening night.

The final audition

This is a big game for a lot of guys trying to earn, or keep, a spot on the team’s 23-man roster.

As such, I think it’s important we take a closer look at some with the most riding on this affair:

Alexander Holtz —> I’ve loved Holtz’ play this preseason. He has clearly made strides in his board play and he looks more shifty and dynamic with the puck on his stick. That’s big if he’s going to (potentially) earn a top-6 role and have guys like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and/or Jesper Bratt on his line. Holtz has helped the Devils control the run of play on a nightly basis, his playmaking has been good, and he’s threatened as a shooter. Oh, and only Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt have averaged more shot contributions per game at 5v5.

All Holtz needs to do – in my opinion – is be consistent. Put forth another good effort and continue to show the improvements made in all the areas of concern.