After getting off to solid start to the season, the New Jersey Devils have run into a rough patch after dropping two straight to the Philadelphia Flyers. They’d try to get back to their winning ways against the Buffalo Sabres.
However, Travis Zajac was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list, prompting the call-up of Nick Merkley from the taxi squad and mixing up of the lines.
Nathan Bastian was promoted to the top line. The Bratt-Zacha-Gusev line that was on fire last year would make a reappearance. Merkley was placed on the fourth line.