The New Jersey Devils will be looking to rebound tonight against the Anaheim Ducks following an embarrassing loss to the Florida Panthers last time out.
They figure to have a good chance of doing so as the Ducks have not looked themselves this season and currently sit in a tie for last place(!) in the NHL.
The Ducks have won just 11 of 30 games they've played (only Toronto has less with 10) and have struggled to fill the net from the word go. They are last in the league in goals with just 56 and have a substantial lead as Philadelphia is the only other team with less than 70 goals.
Though the Devils' offense has been stagnant of late they remain an elite shot suppression team and are certainly not an ideal matchup for a Ducks team that is struggling mightily on the offensive side of things.
The Devils are hoping that remains the case for at least one more game.
LINEUPS Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak Tlusty - Zajac - Palmieri Elias - Josefson - Kennedy Ruutu - Gionta - Kalinin
Greene - Larsson Moore - Severson Merrill - Schlemko
Kinkaid
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Rakell - Getzlaf - Perry Sekac - Kesler - Silfverberg Hagelin - Horcoff - Cogliano Maroon - Santorelli - Stewart
Fowler - Bieksa Lindholm - Manson Stoner - Vatanen
Gibson
WHAT TO WATCH 1) The Devils' power play is clicking at 20.9% on the year and ranks 7th in the league. The Ducks have killed off 87.5% of the penalties they've taken and sit 1st in penalty killing. This is definitely a matchup worth paying attention to.
2) Last time out the Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak line combined for just two shots and zero even-strength scoring chances. Scoring depth has been an issue for the Devils all season long so their big guns will have to come through if they're going to win. 3) Nobody has good numbers on the Ducks right now but they have a (mostly) mobile defense unit with capable puck movers. The Devils will have to close their gaps quickly on the forecheck and force the defensemen to move the puck before they want to. If the likes of Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen and co. have time with the puck they're going to make a play. The key is taking it away from them.
The game is at 7 eastern and can be seen on MSG+ and KCOP-13.