Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
The New Jersey Devils are not playing their best hockey right now and things aren't about to get any easier as tonight they take on the league-leading Montreal Canadiens in the first of a home-and-home.
The good news for the Devils is that they appear to have caught the Canadiens at the right time as they're without a couple of their key contributors.
The Habs are missing forward Brendan Gallagher, who had 19 points in 22 games to start the season, and arguably the NHL's best goaltender in Carey Price.
Montreal won't be an easy out even minus Gallagher and Price - they showed that in a 5-1 win over the Rangers on Wednesday - so the Devils will need to be much better than they've been over the last week or so.
In New Jersey's last four games they recorded 20 shots or less twice, played only 30 good minutes against the Blue Jackets, and were outplayed in their win against Vancouver.
Their defensive play hasn't been as good as it was in the early going and their offense has dipped as well. That needs to change tonight.
LINEUPS
Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak
Kalinin - Zajac - Palmieri
Elias - Josefson - Tootoo
Farnham - Gionta - Kennedy/Matteau
Greene - Larsson
Moore - Severson
Gelinas - Merrill
Schneider
--
Pacioretty - Plekanec - Smith-Pelly
Eller - Galchenyuk - Andrighetto
Fleischmann - Desharnais - Weise
Byron - Flynn - Holloway
Markov - Subban
Emelin - Petry
Gilbert - Beaulieu
Condon
WHAT TO WATCH
1) After a ridiculously hot start to the season Mike Condon has really cooled off of late having allowed three goals or more in four consecutive starts. He's not on his game right now so the Devils need to put as much rubber on net as they can.
2) Montreal's power play is generally very good and that's the case once again this season as they're clicking at a 24.4% rate. The Devils can't afford to parade to the box like they have been of late or they'll pay for it.
3) The Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak line has been New Jersey's best all season long. It'll be fun to see how they stack up against the Markov - Subban pairing as they'll presumably see a lot of them.
The game is at 7 eastern and can be seen on MSG+, Sportsnet East and RDS
Recent Posts
Devils fall to Jackets; lose for third time in four games
On Zacha, Blackwood & Cammalleri
Devils salvage road trip with win over Canucks
On Kennedy, Kalinin, the top line & more
Can the Devils seriously contend for a playoff spot?
Adam Henrique excelling at both ends of the ice
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»