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NHL Gameday Preview: New Jersey Devils @ Vancouver Canucks - Game 4

October 8, 2013, 1:26 PM ET [146 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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Match-up - New Jersey Devils (0-1-2) @ Vancouver Canucks (2-1-0)
Road/Home records - 0-1-1 -------------- 1-0-0
TV - TSN, MSG Plus, NHL Network (US)
Puck drop - 10:00 PM ET
Season series - 0-0
Last 10: Devils 0-2-1 / Canucks 2-1-0
Projected starting goalies - Cory Schneider (NJD) vs. Roberto Luongo (VAN)

Goals for/against per game

Vancouver - 4/3.33
New Jersey - 2.33/3.33

Power play/Penalty Kill

Vancouver - 15.4%/100%
New Jersey - 14.3%/85.7%

Here are the projected lines (subject to change) for the Canucks:

Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Jannik Hansen
David Booth - Ryan Kesler - Chris Higgins
Dale Weise - Brad Richardson - Mike Santorelli
Tom Sestito - Zac Dalpe - Yannick Weber

Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa
Alexander Edler - Jason Garrison
Chris Tanev - Ryan Stanton

Notable injuries: Alex Burrows

Here are the projected lines (subject to change) for the Devils:

Adam Henrique - Travis Zajac - Michael Ryder
Dainius Zubrus - Patrik Elias - Jaromir Jagr
Ryane Clowe - Andrei Loktionov - Damien Brunner
Rusty Olesz - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier

Bryce Salvador - Marek Zidlicky
Andy Greene - Mark Fayne
Anton Volchenkov - Peter Harrold

Some thoughts:

- Schneider needs to make sure he doesn't get caught up in the Schneider vs. Luongo duel the media will be going crazy over. Schneider needs to go out and have a good start because the Devils could really use a win - especially after last night's debacle against Edmonton.

Brodeur has allowed at least three goals and has lost in a shootout in both of his starts and Schneider allowed three goals in his only start. It's still very early, but the Devils need better play from their goaltending.

- The Sedin twins enter tonight's game with nine points combined in three games. I'm guessing they'll see a steady dose of the Zajac line. If the Devils can make that matchup a wash, they should have a good chance to win.

- Through three games the Devils have won slightly more than 40% of their faceoffs. They need to get that number closer to 50% as it's tough to dominate possession when you're always chasing the puck when play begins.

- Canucks have an awesome top-4 but their bottom defence pairing is pretty mediocre. Stanton and Tanev are both sitting around the 45% possession range during 5 vs. 5 play this year. The Devils roll out four solid lines in that regard and should be able to take advantage of that pairing regardless of the matchup. They'll need to do that tonight.

- Average possession rating of Canucks 4th line members: 39%. They have been a liability thus far in the season and against a team like New Jersey that probably won't change tonight. The ice should be tilted in New Jersey's favor almost every time they're on the ice.

- Damien Brunner keeps on getting better and better as he familiarizes himself with Pete DeBoer's system. After recording nine shots in his first game as a Devil, he has followed that up with back-to-back two point games (2G vs. NYI, 1G, 1A vs. EDM). What does he have in store tonight?

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