Tonight the New Jersey Devils kick off a three-game homestand to cap their season as they play host to the Buffalo Sabres.
While both teams will not qualify for the playoffs this season, and not much separates them in the standings, they are heading in very different directions right now.
The Devils have won just eight of their last 22 games and have struggled mightily posting a negative-21 goal differential in that span (only Vancouver is worse).
Meanwhile the Sabres are playing some solid hockey as they've won six of 10, have picked up at least a point in eight of those games and scored 30 goals (three per game) in that span.
If both teams continue on their current paths this game won't go very well for the Devils. Luckily the season is almost over.
LINEUPS Kennedy - Henrique - Smith-Pelly Boucher - Zajac - Palmieri Elias - Josefson - Sislo Kalinin - Gionta - Pietila
Greene - Larsson Schlemko - Severson Moore - Mozik
Schneider --
Girgensons - R. O'Reilly - Fasching Deslauriers - Eichel - Reinhart Foligno - Larsson - Gionta C. O'Reilly - Legwand - Moulson
Gorges - Ristolainen McCabe - Bogosian Pysyk - Nelson
Johnson
Notes
1) Sam Reinhart has quietly had an excellent season with the Sabres scoring 22 goals and tallying 40 points in 76 games as a 1st year pro. The Devils need to pay close attention to him and take away his time and space as, with his hockey IQ and passing ability, he can pick teams apart quickly.
2) After a torrid start to his Devils career DSP has recorded just one assist and eight shots in his last five games. This is the kind of production we should expect from him moving forward.
3) Patrik Elias is slated to return to the lineup after missing the last few months with an injury. I expect he'll play another year but fans better enjoy these last few games just in case.
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