Stutzle's Senators Roll Into Newark to Test Struggling Devils

Ottawa arrives at Prudential Center as one of the early-season's most convincing teams, sitting at 4-1-0 while New Jersey is still searching for consistency at 2-2-0. There's no model read on this one tonight — which means you're watching pure hockey, and the individual matchups are worth your full attention.

Let's start with the obvious: Tim Stutzle is playing at a different level right now. Eight points through five games — four goals, four assists — puts him in a category of his own among early-season performers, and he's the kind of player who doesn't just accumulate stats quietly. He dictates pace, creates problems in transition, and forces opposing defenses to make decisions they don't want to make. Ottawa's 4-1-0 record isn't a fluke — it's what happens when your best player is also your most dangerous player.

New Jersey's challenge is real. Nico Hischier has two goals on the season, and Jesper Bratt leads the team with four points and three assists — respectable numbers, but neither player has yet imposed themselves on games the way Stutzle has for Ottawa. The Devils at 2-2-0 aren't broken, but they haven't found the gear that makes them genuinely threatening. Tonight at home, in front of their own crowd at Prudential Center, is exactly the kind of game where that needs to change.

In net, Linus Ullmark is expected to start for Ottawa, while Nico Daws is projected in goal for New Jersey. That's a significant contrast in experience and recent workload, and it's a factor worth watching as the game develops — particularly if Ottawa's offense gets going early and forces Daws into a high-volume situation. There's no validated model read for this game, so I won't pretend to hand you a clean lean. What I will say is this: Ottawa has earned the benefit of the doubt through five games, and until New Jersey shows it can match that level of execution, the Senators are the team I'd rather be watching with something on the line. Puck drops at 7:00 PM ET on NHL Network and MSGSN.