New Jersey at Florida

New Jersey made a six-point improvement under first-year coach John Hynes and look even better this season. You need defense to contend on the road and the Devils have goalie Cory Schneider, who boasts a 2.14 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in three years since being acquired from Vancouver. New Jersey adds defenseman Ben Lovejoy from Pittsburgh through free agency along with forward Vernon Fiddler. The offense looks better, too, with the addition of scoring ace Taylor Hall. He averaged 22 goals in six seasons with Edmonton before being dealt to New Jersey. The Devils return leading scorer Kyle Palmieri (57 points) and Mike Cammalleri, who had 14 goals, 24 assists, in 42 games last season, plus they have a budding young offensive talent in center Pavel Zacha (sixth overall pick in 2015). The Florida Panthers are a big home favorite, but they will be without two key forwards in top-line left wing Jonathan Huberdeau (Achilles) is out three to four months and center Nick Bjugstad (broken hand) is lost for four weeks. The Panthers had major changes on defense, too, and the Devils are 51-23-3 in the last 77 meetings. I like New Jersey.