The New Jersey Devils are in Calgary to kick off their Western Canada road trip with a game against the struggling Flames.
It will certainly be a battle of contrasting styles; particularly at full-strength.
The Devils are the lowest event team in hockey averaging just 87.8 events (shot attempts for + against) per 60 minutes of 5 vs 5 play while the Flames are the 3rd highest averaging 112.
As a result of New Jersey's low-event style 5 vs 5 goals have been few and far between. Just 42 goals (21 for, 21 against) have been scored at 5 vs 5 through New Jersey's 17 games. In comparison 84 goals (31 for, 53 against) have been scored at full-strength in Calgary's 19 games.
The Flames have struggled mightily in their own zone this year and for much of the season their goaltenders haven't been able to stop a beach ball - although Karri Ramo has been better of late - so the Flames have more or less traded chances and hoped to come out on the better end of things. So far that hasn't worked out very well for them.
It will be interesting to see how they adjust against a New Jersey Devils team that has suppressed shot attempts and scoring chances as well as anyone in hockey.
LINEUPS *questionable due to illness
Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak Kalinin - Zajac - Palmieri Matteau* - Josefson - Tootoo Farnham - Gionta - O'Neill
Greene - Larsson Merrill - Severson Moore - Schlemko
Schneider
--
Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler Bennett - Backlund - Frolik Colborne - Stajan - Jones Ferland - Jooris - Bollig
Giordano - Brodie Russell - Hamilton Engelland - Wideman
Ramo
THREE KEYS 1) Goaltending. Cory Schneider enters this game having allowed two goals or less in seven straight. Karri Ramo has allowed two or less just four times in 11 appearances. The Devils don't allow many chances, which means Ramo probably won't get much goal support. If he's not on his game the Flames won't win.
2) Sit on the stretch pass. The Flames are incredibly reliant on stretch passes and they continue to try them whether the high forward is open or not. If the Devils are on their toes they should be able to intercept them and start driving play the other way.
3) Next line up. The Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak unit will likely get a steady dose of the Giordano - Brodie pairing so it's probably unreasonable to expect a ton from them. Lines 2-4 will have to pick up the slack against the rest of a defense core that has struggled all year. The game is at 9 eastern and can be seen on Sportsnet West and MSG+.
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