G67 New Jersey Devils @ Boston Bruins: A stiff test

Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell | @InfernalAccess

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey, and everything else, with our writers and subscribers.

---

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

Hanging with the big boys

The Bruins are playing arguably their best hockey of the season. They’re 7-2-1 over the last 10 games and they’ve been absolutely steamrolling teams at 5v5. There, they’ve controlled 62.5% of the expected goals(!) and nearly 63% of the high-danger chances. Insanity.

Yet, there’s reason to believe the Devils can play with them. Their xG share sits at 54.4% while they are a little under 60% in terms of HD chances. They sit 5th in the latter category, sandwiched between a pair of contenders in the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames.

That bodes well for their chances of making this game interesting. So, too, does the fact New Jersey has long given Boston a hard time. They beat them four times last season. While they’ve yet to get a result this year, New Jersey won the 5v5 HD chance battle in both prior meetings.

The Devils should be able to keep things relatively close at full-strength and give the Bruins a run for their money.

That’s what this stretch run is about. Getting their game in a good place and competing with quality teams, giving them confidence they can do so when the games actually matter again.