Match-up - Boston Bruins (54-18-9) @ New Jersey Devils (34-29-18) Road/Home records - 23-11-6 -------------- 20-11-9 TV - NESN, MSG Puck drop - 3:00 p.m. ET Season series - Tied 1-1 Last 10: Bruins 5-1-4 | Devils 4-1-5 Projected starting goalies - Chad Johnson vs Martin Brodeur
Projected lines for the Bruins:
*Bergeron, Paille is not expected to play ** Chara could rest, Meszaros or Potter likely to fill in
Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Jaromie Iginla Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron* - Reilly Smith Daniel Paille** - Carl Soderberg - Loui Eriksson Jordan Caron - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara** - Dougie Hamilton Johnny Boychuk - Matt Bartkowski Torey Krug - Kevin Millar
Projected lines for the Devils:
Tuomo Ruutu - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr Damien Brunner - Patrik Elias - Mike Sislo Dainius Zubrus - Tim Sestito - Michael Ryder Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier
Andy Greene - Mark Fayne Jon Merrill - Marek Zidlicky Anton Volchenkov - Adam Larsson
Notes:
- Well, this is it. Martin Brodeur will start the season finale in what is likely his final game as a member of the Devils and, depending on opportunities that arise in the off-season, potentially the last start of his NHL career. I'm sure it'll be very emotional for him and the fans in attendance.
- Brodeur's had a very up-and-down year and there seems to have been as many downs as ups, but I really hope he can string together even a mediocre performance today. It'd be awful to end a great career in New Jersey off a start where he was shelled.
- Eric Gelinas has been assigned to Albany, but we still get to see one more game from young defensemen Adam Larsson and Jon Merrill. One game doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things, but you'd like to see them end the year playing well.
- Jaromir Jagr: his last game as a Devil? His last NHL game? Probably doubtful on both accounts, but you never know with No. 68.
- The Bruins are likely resting some players today so they won't have the lineup that led them to 1st place in the NHL, but they're still a good team. A win over Boston would be a nice way to finish the year.
- Is this Pete DeBoer's last game in New Jersey? Not likely. CBC's Elliotte Friedman reported during a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast Saturday that the Devils and DeBoer are working on a multi-year extension. I think he's a good fit in New Jersey and they're smart to try and retain him. I posted an article yesterday (link below) on that very subject.
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