New York @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2019 ) NY Rangers 2, New Jersey 4

The New Jersey Devils entered the season with high hopes but they are the only team in the league that has yet to taste victory. After blowing another big lead to remain winless through six games, the Devils will look to avoid their worst start in six years against a familiar rival when the New York Rangers pay a visit to the Prudential Center on Thursday night.

New Jersey went into a tailspin after squandering a four-goal lead in the season opener but appeared poised to end the slide before coughing up a three-goal cushion in Monday's 6-4 home loss to Florida. "Hockey's weird that way," Devils forward Taylor Hall said. "You can have a lot of talk before the year, and a lot of positivity and a great training camp like we had, and you come out and start the way that we have." The Rangers have had a weird start of their own -- mainly due to inactivity -- and will be playing only their fourth game overall and second in 12 days. "You try the best you can here to stay sharp in practice," veteran netminder Henrik Lundqvist said. "You definitely need to get out and play to get into that rhythm. ... There's only so many things you can talk about and work on in practice. You need to play games."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE RANGERS (2-1-0): Though his sample size of games is the smallest in the NHL, coach David Quinn shuffled his lines this week, elevating center Brett Howden to the second line alongside Chris Kreider and rookie Kaapo Kakko. “I didn’t love what I saw from that (second) line,” Quinn said after Tuesday's practice. “I think the line balance might be a little bit better. I thought Howds had a decent night the other night (in Saturday's 4-1 loss to Edmonton).” Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, registered his first NHL goal Saturday.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (0-4-2): Not only did New Jersey give up five unanswered goals to Florida, top-line center Nico Hischier exited the contest due to an upper-body injury and did not practice Wednesday. Listed as day-to-day, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017 is not expected to play against New York and will be replaced on the No. 1 unit by Jack Hughes, the top overall selection in this year's draft. Captain Andy Greene is eligible to be activated off injured reserve Thursday but he also did not practice Wednesday and is expected to sit out his fourth straight game.

OVERTIME

1. Hughes is a minus-4 and remains in search of his first NHL point.

2. Lundqvist is 3-2-1 with 18 goals allowed in his last six starts against New Jersey.

3. Hall, who had a goal and an assist Monday, has 14 points in 15 games versus New York.

PREDICTION: Devils 4, Rangers 3