Match-up - Montreal Canadiens (24-11-2) @ New Jersey Devils (13-19-7) Road/Home records - 11-7-1 -------------- 5-6-5 TV - RDS, SNE, MSG+ Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - 0-0 Last 10 - Habs: 7-3-0 ------- Devils: 2-6-2 Projected starting goalies - Carey Price vs Keith Kinkaid
Projected lines for the Canadiens via DailyFaceoff.com:
Max Pacioretty - Alex Galchenyuk - Brendan Gallagher David Desharnais - Tomas Plekanec - P.A. Parenteau Jiri Sekac - Lars Eller - Brandon Prust Sven Andrighetto - Manny Malhotra - Dale Weise
Andrei Markov - P.K. Subban Nathan Beaulieu - Sergei Gonchar Alexei Emelin - Tom Gilbert
Injured: Bryan Allen, Mike Weaver.
Projected lines for the Devils:
Dainius Zubrus - Scott Gomez - Jaromir Jagr Patrik Elias - Travis Zajac - Martin Havlat Michael Cammalleri - Adam Henrique - Tuomo Ruutu Joe Whitney - Tim Sestito - Jordin Tootoo
Andy Greene - Pete Harrold Jon Merrill - Marek Zidlicky Adam Larsson - Seth Helgeson
Injured/ill: Michael Ryder, Jacob Josefson, Ryane Clowe, Steve Bernier, Damon Severson, Eric Gelinas, Bryce Salvador.
What to watch:
1) The new coaching staff has been behind the bench for a few games now, but they're still getting a feel for the team so (once again) it'll be interesting to see how certain guys are deployed. Eric Gelinas, who is out with an illness, has played less than 12 minutes in consecutive games. Over-the-hill players such as Dainius Zubrus and Scott Gomez saw more ice than Adam Henrique last game, too. For a team that should be embracing a rebuild that's tough to see.
2) Even-strength offense. The Devils are clicking at a 20% rate on the power play this year, and despite that they're barely averaging more than two goals per game. Montreal is better but they aren't a great 5 vs 5 team, either, so perhaps the Devils can take advantage of that tonight.
3) Given the talent on the team it's hard to expect a lot of production from anyone, but Travis Zajac needs to produce at a much higher clip. He's making well over $5 million and he has three points in his last 15 games (10 in 31 on the year). That isn't near enough.
4) Keith Kinkaid will be getting his 4th career start tonight, and once again it will come against a team with a very good record. In his three starts prior (vs CHI, NYI, TB) he has stopped 94-100 for a .940SV% and has gotten the Devils at least a point in each start.
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