Match-up - New York Rangers (2-4-0) @ New Jersey Devils (0-4-3)
Road/Home records - 2-4-0 -------------- 0-0-1
TV - MSG, MSG Plus
Puck drop - 7:00 PM ET
Season series - 0-0
Last 10: Rangers 2-4-0 / Devils 0-4-3
Projected starting goalies - Henrik Lundqvist (NYR) v. Cory Schneider (NJD)
Goals for/against per game
New York - 1.83/4.17
New Jersey - 1.86/3.43
Power play/Penalty Kill
New York - 20%/79.2%
New Jersey - 9.1%/85%
Here are the projected lines (subject to change) for the Rangers:
Taylor Pyatt - Derick Brassard - Brad Richards
J.T. Miller - Derek Stepan - Mats Zuccarello
Benoit Pouliot - Brian Boyle - Derek Dorsett
Darroll Powe - Dominic Moore - Jesper Fast
Marc Staal - Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh - Anton Stralman
John Moore - Justin Falk
Notable injuries: Rick Nash, Carl Hagelin, Ryan Callahan, Michael Del Zotto.
Here are the projected lines (subject to change) for the Devils:
* Questionable due to sickness. Rusty Olesz will play if necessary.
Patrik Elias* - Adam Henrique - Jaromir Jagr
Mattias Tedenby - Travis Zajac - Michael Ryder
Dainius Zubrus - Jacob Josefson - Damien Brunner
Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier
Bryce Salvador - Mark Fayne
Andy Greene - Marek Zidlicky
Anton Volchenkov - Peter Harrold
Some thoughts:
- In large part due to injury problems, the Rangers have struggled to score even more than the Devils have to this point. With Schneider between the pipes for the Devils, it won't get any easier for New York. A quality start would probably be enough to get the Devils their first win of the season tonight.
- After his strong start, Brunner has really cooled down of late. He has just one assist and six shots in the last four games. I think part of it is because he's been separated from Elias, who he played very well with.
- Another player who needs to pick it up for the Devils is Ryder. He is pointless in his last four and has just six shots on net in that span. You can't score if you don't shoot, so Ryder will need to start throwing more pucks on net - especially when facing a struggling team and goaltender.
- The Devils need to play with a lot of urgency. It's still very early in the season, but the Devils can't afford to continue losing hockey games. They're facing a struggling Rangers team that's been decimated with injuries so there is no reason they can't pick up two points tonight.
- Pete DeBoer and the Devils have last change so it'll be interesting to see how he deploys his units. I'd expect the Zajac line to go up against the Brassard line because that's the Rangers most formidable offensive unit, but besides that I'm not sure what he'll do. Definitely something to watch.
- I'll be in Buffalo tonight attending the Avalanche v. Sabres game with some buddies so the Devils will win for sure.
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