The Chicago Blackhawks are wrapping up their four-game East Coast road trip with a highly anticipated clash against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Sunday night. It’s the second and final encounter between these two teams in the 2025-26 NHL season, and if the first meeting was any indication, fans are in for a wild ride. Back in November, the Devils pulled off a dramatic 4-3 overtime win in Chicago, thanks to Simon Nemec's electrifying first NHL hat trick, including the tying goal late in the third and the overtime clincher. The Blackhawks, eager to snap a frustrating losing streak against New Jersey, are hoping to flip the script this time around.
Heading into this matchup, both teams find themselves at pivotal moments in their seasons. The Blackhawks (27-33-13) have struggled mightily of late, being outscored 11-2 over their last two games. Most recently, they suffered a tough 6-1 defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, with Nick Lardis providing Chicago’s lone goal. For a team packed with young talent—one of the youngest rosters in NHL history—these growing pains have been hard to ignore, but head coach Jeff Blashill remains focused on development and resilience.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils (37-33-2) aren’t exactly riding high either. They’re coming off a 5-2 road loss to the Carolina Hurricanes just 24 hours before facing Chicago. Despite their recent struggles, the Devils have shown flashes of brilliance since the Olympic break. With 76 points through 72 games, they sit 11 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. It’s a tall order, but not mathematically impossible—though it would take a near-miracle finish for the Devils to sneak into the postseason with several teams still in the hunt.
The Devils’ season has been a rollercoaster, marred by a midseason slump that saw them tumble out of playoff position. A major turning point came when star forward Jack Hughes suffered a bizarre off-ice hand injury during a dinner in Chicago last November. His absence was keenly felt, as the team struggled to find consistency without one of their top offensive weapons. Since returning, Hughes has caught fire, reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the league’s brightest young stars. Notably, Hughes recently scored the Golden Goal in overtime against Canada at the Milano Cortina Olympics, sealing the United States’ first gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years—a feat that’s only added to his legend and confidence on NHL ice.
For Sunday’s game, both teams are dealing with their fair share of injuries. The Blackhawks are without defenseman Artyom Levshunov, who was diagnosed with a fracture in his left wrist after playing through pain for several games. His timeline for return is still up in the air. Chicago is also missing Matt Grzelcyk, Andrew Mangiapane, and Oliver Moore due to various ailments. In response, Kevin Korchinski was recalled from the AHL and is set to make his fifth NHL appearance this season. The shakeup doesn’t stop there—Anton Frondell is being moved to center for the first time in his Blackhawks career, a move Blashill described as a valuable opportunity to evaluate the young forward in a new role.
The projected Blackhawks lineup features a mix of youth and experience: Ryan Greene, Connor Bedard, and Frank Nazar are expected to form the top line, while Tyler Bertuzzi, Anton Frondell, and Nick Lardis round out the second. Andre Burakovsky, Ryan Donato, and Ilya Mikheyev provide depth on the third line, with Teuvo Teravainen, Sacha Boisvert, and Landon Slaggert anchoring the fourth. On defense, the pairings include Alex Vlasic with Louis Crevier, Wyatt Kaiser with Sam Rinzel, and the newly promoted Korchinski alongside Ethan Del Mastro. In net, Spencer Knight gets the nod, looking to rebound after allowing five goals on 42 shots in his last outing against Philadelphia. Despite recent struggles, Knight has posted a stellar 2-0-0 record with a .970 save percentage and a minuscule 0.70 goals-against average over his last two games at Prudential Center—numbers Chicago would love to see repeated tonight.
The Devils, coached by Sheldon Keefe, are expected to roll with a potent top six featuring Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer on the first line, and Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, and Connor Brown on the second. Depth is provided by Evgenii Dadonov, Cody Glass, Lenni Hameenaho, Paul Cotter, Nick Bjugstad, and Maxim Tsyplakov. Their blue line is anchored by Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton, with Luke Hughes, Johnathan Kovacevic, Brenden Dillon, and Simon Nemec rounding out the defensive corps. Jake Allen is set to start in goal after Jacob Markstrom played the previous night in Carolina. Allen brings a wealth of experience, boasting a 12-7-4 record with a 2.35 GAA and .922 save percentage in 23 career games against Chicago.
Statistically, the Blackhawks have struggled offensively this season, ranking 30th in goals for per game (2.57) and 24th on the power play (17.6%). However, their penalty kill has been outstanding, leading the league at 84.5%. Connor Bedard continues to be a bright spot, pacing the team with 30 goals, 37 assists, and 67 points. Tyler Bertuzzi has also been a thorn in New Jersey’s side, tallying points in 11 of his last 12 games against the Devils and amassing 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 20 career matchups.
On the Devils’ side, Jesper Bratt leads with 60 points (41 assists), while Nico Hischier tops the goal-scoring chart with 26. New Jersey’s power play sits at a respectable 13th in the league (22.0%), and their penalty kill is middle of the pack at 79.7%. The Devils have dominated this matchup in recent years, winning seven straight against the Blackhawks and four in a row at Prudential Center. Chicago’s last win in New Jersey dates all the way back to December 6, 2019—a streak they’re desperate to end.
With both teams eager to right the ship, Sunday’s contest carries extra weight. The Devils, though unlikely to make the playoffs, are playing for pride and to build momentum for next season. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are focused on developing their young core and evaluating new roles, especially with Frondell’s shift to center and Korchinski’s return to the lineup. As the puck drops shortly after 6:00 p.m. CT, all eyes will be on whether Chicago can finally break their New Jersey curse or if the Devils will continue their dominance in this head-to-head series.
As the action unfolds, fans can catch all the excitement locally on CHSN and WGN 720 AM, with national coverage on ESPN+ and NHL Network. With so many storylines in play—rookie debuts, injury comebacks, playoff dreams fading, and personal rivalries—this matchup promises drama until the final horn. Stay tuned as these two storied franchises battle for pride and momentum down the stretch.