The Carolina Hurricanes may be the last team the New Jersey Devils want to run into right now.
Why would the Devils want to avoid a Hurricanes team that has won just eight of 24 games? Because they are currently tied for 2nd last in the NHL.
New Jersey's record against bottom-5 teams thus far (Columbus, Carolina, Edmonton, Calgary and Colorado): 0-5-0. That includes a pair of losses to the Blue Jackets, one to the Oilers and one to the Flames.
Against the rest of the league the Devils are 12-5-2 and have beaten the likes of the Blackhawks (x2), Islanders and Canadiens, among others.
For whatever reason the Devils have played down to competition all season long.
Perhaps things will be different in Carolina tonight because they are much better than their record indicates. The Hurricanes have out played a lot of good teams this season and consistently been sunk by atrocious goaltending.
If the Devils play to the level of their competition tonight they may just be OK.
LINEUPS Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak Elias - Zajac - Palmieri Matteau - Josefson - Kennedy O'Neill - Gionta - Tootoo
Greene - Larsson Moore - Severson Gelinas - Merrill
Kinkaid
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E. Staal - Rask - Lindholm Nordstrom - J. Staal - Nastrasil Skinner - Nash - Versteeg Malone - McClemment - Terry
Hainsey - Faulk Liles - Pesce Hanifin - Murphy
Lack
WHAT TO WATCH 1) Elias Lindholm had two points in his first 19 games. He has five in his last five and is riding a five-game point streak. Lindholm is starting to play like the guy we saw last year which is good news for the 'Canes and bad news for the Devils.
2) The Devils are the lowest-event 5 v 5 team in the NHL. The Hurricanes are middle of the pack. I don't anticipate these teams will be trading chances so they'll have to convert on the ones they do get.
3) The Hurricanes rank 28th in team save percentage at 5 v 5 and have had terrible goaltending all season long. If the Devils can get a quality start from Kinkaid they stand a great chance of winning this game.
The game is at 7 eastern and can be seen on MSG+ and Fox Sports Carolina.
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