Tonight the New Jersey Devils play host to a Florida Panthers team that has been red hot of late.
After hitting a bit of a rough patch the Panthers have been getting much better results picking up wins in seven of their last 10 games.
They haven't played as well as their recent record would indicate, though, as the Panthers have generated just 45% of the shot attempts and 45.4% of the scoring chances in that span. That's not a good recipe for success over time.
To their credit they have been opportunistic and Roberto Luongo's given them stellar goaltending so they've had a chance every night. The Devils know full well how important good goaltending is and what it can do for a team.
It will be fun to see a pair of teams with similar playing styles and tendencies square off tonight with an important two points on the line (Florida sits just two back of New Jersey for a wild card spot).
LINEUPS Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak Tlusty - Josefson - Palmieri Elias - Kalinin - Kennedy Ruutu - Gionta - Tootoo
Greene - Larsson Moore - Severson Merrill - Schlemko
Schneider
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Note: Jaromir Jagr expected to return tonight. No word who is out. Huberdeau - Barkov - Piri Jokinen - Trocheck - Smith Howden - Grimaldi - Shaw Thornton - Knight - Brickley
Campbell - Mitchell Kulikov - Ekblad Gudbranson - Olsen
Luongo
WHAT TO WATCH 1) In 115 minutes of 5 v 5 hockey with Campbell - Mitchell on the ice the Panthers have generated just 41% of the shot attempts, 45% of the scoring chances and 37% of the goals. They've struggled mightily - almost solely because of Mitchell's poor play - so John Hynes should be looking to get his top unit out against that pairing every chance he gets.
2) There are 41.8 scoring chances per 60 minutes of 5 v 5 in Devils' games this year (fewest in the NHL). There are 44.8 scoring chances per 60 minutes of 5 v5 in Panthers' games this year (second fewest in the NHL).
Don't expect a barn burner in this one. 3) Among 21 goaltenders with at least 20 starts Cory Schneider ranks 4th in the NHL with a .927SV%. Roberto Luongo is tied for 5th with a .925SV%. This could very well turn into a goaltending duel.
The game is at 7 eastern and can be seen on MSG+ and FS-Florida.
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