Match-up - New Jersey Devils (27-23-13) @ Detroit Red Wings (28-21-13) Road/Home records - 12-15-6 -------------- 11-11-9 TV - MSG Plus, FS-Detroit, RDS Puck drop - 7:30 p.m. ET Season series - Tied 1-1 Last 10: Devils 5-3-2 | Red Wings 5-3-2 Projected starting goalies - Cory Schneider vs Jonas Gustavsson
Projected lines for the Red Wings:
Gustav Nyquist - David Legwand - Johan Franzen Tomas Tatar - Riley Sheahan - Tomas Jurco Justin Abdelkader - Luke Glendening - Daniel Alfredsson Drew Miller - Joakim Andersson - Todd Bertuzzi
Niklas Kronwall - Jonathan Ericsson Kyle Quincey - Danny DeKeyser Brendan Smith - Jakub Kindl
Projected lines for the Devils:
Ryane Clowe - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr Adam Henrique - Patrik Elias - Damien Brunner Tuomo Ruutu - Dainius Zubrus - Michael Ryder Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier
Andy Greene - Mark Fayne Eric Gelinas - Marek Zidlicky Bryce Salvador - Jon Merrill
Game notes:
- Thanks to a little help from the Colorado Avalanche last night, the Red Wings were only able to pick up one point, and as a result the Devils can tie them for a wild card spot with a regulation win tonight. Both teams have improved since they met earlier this week - the Devils added Ruutu and the Wings acquired Legwand - but the Red Wings remain extremely beat up. Add that with their struggles at home this season and this is a winnable game. New Jersey needs another two points.
- After a losing the net for a couple games because of a sub-par start against one of the NHL's powerhouse teams in the Sharks, Schneider will get the nod in goal tonight in what will be the Devils biggest game of the season to date. He allowed more than two goals for just the 2nd time in 16 starts against San Jose, so I'd say he's a good bet for a strong start tonight. New Jersey will need him.
- Pete DeBoer has decided to shuffle up the blue line a bit and Eric Gelinas now finds himself paired with Marek Zidlicky. Both are excellent offensive players but tend to have hiccups defensively at times, so I'm interested to see how they perform together and if this is a pairing that could stick. It's definitely the high-risk high-reward pairing on the roster.
- Johan Franzen has caught fire and recorded seven points in four games since the NHL season started up again. The Devils will need to do a better job defending him, especially around the net, than they did the last time the two teams met.
- Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias have both been exceptional since being put on a line together coming out of the Olympic break. Will they stay hot after having a couple days off?
- New Jersey's power play unit is clicking at a ridiculous rate of almost 40% over their last four games. If they can score a goal or two tonight, Schneider might not need much more.
- Tuomo Ruutu will be making his debut on the 3rd line with Dainius Zubrus and Michael Ryder. Personally I'd have put him on the top line where Ryane Clowe is, but I'm willing to wait and see how this plays out. If the 3rd line doesn't perform it won't last; DeBoer's just trying to find the best fit.
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