New rink. New sheet. New opportunity.

Welcome to the East Brunswick Ice Arena, a new home for our Learn To Play program presented by @[email protected].

#NJDevils | @[email protected]

Sheldon Keefe says that Brett Pesce is questionable to be able to return this season.

Stefan Noesen has been ruled out for the remainder of the year.

#NJDevils

On to the #NJDevils, in the midst of a rare 3-day layoff:

-- Still wondering what will happen this offseason. Report recently that the team could bring in someone above GMTF and keep him in place; last I checked Harris/Blitzer does have someone above Fitz (Bob Myers). How many presidents do you need?

-- A healthy Jack Hughes means so much to this group. And you can't really plan for him to not be healthy, other than having a group that can handle playing without their star. Maybe that's a reason to change the non-Jack core a bit this offseason -- guys who know how to fill the void and drag the team along.

-- Markstrom has been marginally better during his recent run of starts, with a positive GSAx since the Olympic break. A reminder that his early season injury was a big blow to him being consistent. He's 36 so he's not gonna be injury proof, but this weirdo season fell apart in a lot of different ways in November/December.

-- Like seeing the fight left in this group, banding together when shit goes down. More than any Ws/Ls and individual points right now, that's the stuff that helps going forward for me.

A Tri-State Hockey report after a devastating couple of games for the #Isles, with the biggest one of the season on tap tonight, plus whatever we got to discuss about the #NYR and #NJDevils...

#Isles first, obv, with data from @[email protected]:

-- Thursday was a crusher and last night was an embarrassment. #Isles had 1 SOG and 1 total scoring chance 3rd period in OTT -- one chance in the 3rd period of a playoff-type game is shocking. That's not just sitting back, it's malpractice. 2015 G7 in Wash level nerves, which shouldn't happen to such a veteran team.

-- OK, shake that off going into last night. Still all to play for. 1st period? 8-1 HD chances for MTL. Sorokin and a decent 2nd had them tied early in the 3rd but this was a lopsided game. Unacceptable for the group and the coaching staff to be unable to stiffen up and take the play to either team last two.

-- #Isles are 9-7-0 in their last 16 games. Their team xG metrics aren't terrible in that span -- 8th in the league in xGF at 5v5, 22nd in xGA -- but the goaltending hasn't been as eye-popping. Sorokin ranks 15th in the league in that span at +2.88 GSAx; he's at 28.36 GSAx for the season.

-- There's some high-ranked teams this season who are doing quite well trading HD chances and/or relying on mid goaltending. The #Isles are not one of those teams. And I don't know if they can buck the season-long trend and simply play better defense, especially against settled offense in their zone, because they haven't done it well all year.

-- Sorokin goes again tonight. It's a desperate move by Roy and the staff. 4 starts in 6 days after getting a ton of work all year... I would have hesitated to do it. We'll see if Sorokin can come up with another gem, or maybe his teammates will help him have an easier night. Maybe?

This got out of hand immediately.

Grant Marshall and @[email protected] have us ready to grab these Eastback Kitchen eats right now.

#NJDevils | @[email protected]