Match-up - Carolina Hurricanes (27-27-9) @ New Jersey Devils (27-24-13) Road/Home records - 12-14-4 -------------- 15-8-7 TV - MSG Plus, FS-Carolina Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - Tied 1-1 Last 10: Hurricanes 3-7-0 | Devils 5-3-2 Projected starting goalies - Anton Khudobin vs Martin Brodeur
Projected lines for the Hurricanes:
Jeff Skinner - Eric Staal - Elias Lindholm Jiri Tlusty - Jordan Staal - Alex Semin Nathan Gerbe - Riley Nash - Pat Dwyer Drayson Bowman - Andrei Loktionov - Manny Malhotra
Andrej Sekera - John-Michael Liles Ron Hainsey - Brett Bellemore Jay Harrison - Ryan Murphy
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:
- There's some good story lines for this game in that Ruutu and Loktionov will be squaring off against their old teams just a few days after being traded, but the most important thing about this game is that there's two points on the line and both teams desperately need it. After New Jersey's debacle at the Joe in Detroit last night, coupled with some teams around them in the standings winning, the Devils are now four points out of a wild card spot and five points back of a divisional spot. If they want to make the playoffs they need to start winning games, and a lot of them.
- Ruutu was OK in his debut with New Jersey playing on the 3rd line with Zubrus and Ryder. He had a couple good chances that he didn't finish and played a little bit on the PK. He also didn't get killed in possession despite starting only one shift in the offensive zone so while it wasn't a great debut, it wasn't bad. It'll be interesting to see how he does tonight against his former team. I'm sure he'll be motivated to be at his best.
- On the other side of this trade, Loktionov seems to be getting the short end of the stick early on. Considering part of the reason he struggled this season - and asked for a trade - was due to a lack of opportunity, I'm sure he's not thrilled about starting with Carolina on the 4th line.
- The Hurricanes aren't a great 5 vs 5 team and they're much worse with special teams - especially on the power play - so the Devils have a decisive edge there. They'll need to take advantage of that.
- Andrej Sekera enters tonight's contest having picked up eight points in his last six games. He's truly one of the most underrated defenseman in the NHL and you can expect to see a lot of him tonight. He's the Hurricanes' Andy Greene, except with a little more offense.
- Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias continued the dominant run they've been on since being put on a line together after the Olympics. Henrique scored a pair against Detroit which gives him seven goals and nine points in his last five games, while Elias scored a short handed blast to give him eight points in his last five. If the Devils want to get into the playoffs - especially with the way the other lines are struggling offensively - these two will need to keep producing.
- Martin Brodeur will make his first start since the trade deadline and, whether he wanted a change of scenery or not, he's still with the team and the Devils need him. Schneider has allowed 11 goals in his last two starts and lost both, while Brodeur has allowed four goals in his last two starts and won both. Schneider is still the goalie going forward, but the Devils need points any way they can get them and if Brodeur is playing well and winning games, he'll see his fair share of starts. After all, isn't that what he wanted? This is a big start for him.
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