Devils rookie forward Jesper Boqvist makes his NHL debut tonight. AP Photo by Bruce Bennett via Getty Images

When the Devils take on the Sabres upstate later, there’ll be one change to the lineup. Coach John Hynes has decided to take a look at rookie Jesper Boqvist.

A second round pick taken number 36 in 2017, the 20-year old Swede had a good camp to make the roster. Now, he’ll make his NHL debut at Buffalo. In a bit of a surprise, Boqvist will play on a new line with Pavel Zacha and talented Russian Nikita Gusev, who scored in his first NHL game.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1180591035660914688?s=19

I guess that means Hynes wants to use Gusev in a different role for a game. He broke up the second line. Rookie Jack Hughes will likely center Jesper Bratt and Wayne Simmonds.

The Devils also received good news on starting goalie Cory Schneider, who departed last night’s game after the Winnipeg second goal with an injury. It sounds like the best case scenario.

Until he returns, Mackenzie Blackwood will likely start. He’ll man the net tonight.