Match-up - Lo Angeles Kings (12-6-1) @ New Jersey Devils (6-7-5)
Road/Home records - 5-3-1 -------------- 3-1-2
TV - MSG Plus, FS-W
Puck drop - 7:00 PM ET
Season series - 0-0
Last 10: Kings 6-3-1 / Devils 5-3-2
Projected starting goalies - Ben Scrivens v. Cory Schneider

Goals for/against per game

Los Angeles - 2.68/2.37
New Jersey - 2.11/2.33

Power play/Penalty Kill

Los Angeles - 20.6%/81.3%
New Jersey - 17.5%/86.9%

Projected lines for the Kings:

Dustin Brown - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Dwight King - Mike Richards - Tyler Toffoli
Tanner Pearson - Linden Vey - Trevor Lewis
Jordan Nolan - Colin Fraser - Matt Frattin

Jake Muzzin - Drew Doughty
Slava Voynov - Robyn Regehr
Willie Mitchell - Alec Martinez

Projected lines for the Devils:

Dainius Zubrus - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr
Damien Brunner - Patrik Elias - Michael Ryder
Adam Henrique - Andrei Loktionov - Steve Bernier
Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Cam Janssen

Andy Greene - Marek Zidlicky
Eric Gelinas - Adam Larsson
Peter Harrold - Mark Fayne

Notable injuries: Ryane Clowe, Bryce Salvador, Anton Volchenkov, Jon Merrill.

Some notes:

- The Devils are entering the toughest stretch of the season as they play LA (2), San Jose, Anahaim and Pittsburgh over their next five games. This is an extremely important string of games and if the Devils can make it out of this alive (say, 2-2-1) I think they'll be OK moving forward. A win tonight would certainly be a good start.

- Though the Devils' schedule is very tough over the next week or so, they are catching a bit of a break as they won't have to deal with Jonathan Quick in either game against LA. It's also worth noting they're also getting a tired Kings team tonight and they'll square off against a tired Penguins team tomorrow.

- Patrik Elias is expected to return to the lineup and he'll play on a line with Damien Brunner and Michael Ryder if he does. Brunner and Ryder have combined for just nine goals and 15 points in 35 games this season so hopefully Elias' presence can help get both of them going.

- It will be interesting to see how Pete DeBoer deploys Pete Harrold's defensive unit tonight. DeBoer seems kind of ho-hum on Mark Fayne but for some reason loves Harrold so I'm not sure what kind of ice time to expect. Harrold's averaging over 24 minutes over his last two games so I don't think DeBoer will just burry him in the lineup and give him 17-18 minutes. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.

- The Gelinas - Larsson pairing has been very good more often than not since being put together and they've fared very well against some quality teams in Boston, Vancouver, etc. They'll have another tough task tonight going against a 12-6-1 Kings team that carries play and drives possession with the best of them.

- Brown - Kopitar - Williams is one of the best lines in hockey so Zajac will have his hands full tonight. The Devils have last change so DeBoer will be able to get the matchups he wants. Expect Zajac to shadow Kopitar and his linemates all game long.

- The Devils penalty kill is 19-20 over the last four games and have killed off 11 straight.

- Schneider has just one win in eight starts on the season despite posting a .915 save percentage and 2.09 goals against average. New Jersey hasn't been scoring for him but perhaps with Elias expected to return that will change tonight.

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