The New Jersey Devils enter tonight's game as one of the league's hottest teams having won four in a row and registered at least a point in five consecutive games.
They'll be looking to extend those streaks against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has been downright dreadful to start the year.
The Jackets are 1-8-0 and have a league-worst minus-21 goal differential. They're struggling to fill the net on a consistent basis and Sergei Bobrovsky is playing the worst hockey of his career. To make matters worse for the Jackets they will be without their best player tonight in Ryan Johansen.
The Devils have earned nine of 10 possible points over the last five games and another two look to be on a silver platter tonight. They just need to take them.
LINEUPS
Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak Tlusty - Zajac - Palmieri O'Neill - Josefson - Tootoo Matteau - Gionta - Kalinin
Greene - Larsson Moore - Severson Gelinas - Schlemko
Schneider
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Saad - Dubinsky - Foligno Hartnell - Wennberg - Atkinson Jenner - Karlsson - Calvert Bourque - Campbell - Clarkson
Johnson - Savard Murray - Goloubef Tyutin - Prout
Bobrovsky
KEYS TO THE GAME 1) Scoring first. The Blue Jackets have no confidence right now and are probably more likely to bury their heads in the sand than overcome an early deficit. If the Devils can get the jump on them tonight they'll be in good shape as Columbus is 1-6-0 when allowing the 1st goal.
2) Throw everything at the net. Columbus has an .868 team save percentage on the year which is good for 30th in the NHL. Obviously Sergei Bobrovsky/Curtis McElhinney are low on confidence right now so the Devils need to be on the ball and take advantage of that. Make life difficult on these guys.
3) Dynamic duo. Mike Cammalleri and Adam Henrique have combined for 15 points over the last four games and have been making things happen every time they've been on the ice. If they can keep it going tonight the Devils will have a great chance of winning their 5th in a row.
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