Match-up - Montreal Canadiens (16-9-3) @ New Jersey Devils (11-12-5) Road/Home records - 7-4-1 -------------- 5-4-2 TV - MSG Plus, TSN, RDS Puck drop - 7:00 PM ET Season series - Habs lead 1-0 Last 10: Canadiens 7-1-2 / Devils 5-5-0 Projected starting goalies - Peter Budaj vs Cory Schneider
Goals for/against per game
Montreal - 2.68/2.00 New Jersey - 2.18/2.25
Power play/Penalty Kill
Montreal - 24.5%/85.7% New Jersey - 17.4%/86.8%
Projected lines for the Canadiens (courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com):
Danny Briere - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Brendan Gallagher Alex Galchenyuk - Lars Eller - Michael Bournival Travis Moen - Brandon Prust - Ryan White
Andrei Markov - P.K. Subban Alexei Emelin - Josh Gorges Douglas Murray - Raphael Diaz
Injuries: Davis Drewiske, Rene Bourque.
Projected lines for the Devils:
Dainius Zubrus - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr Reid Boucher - Patrik Elias - Steve Bernier Damien Brunner - Adam Henrique - Michael Ryder Tim Sestito - Andrei Loktionov - Cam Janssen
Andy Greene - Mark Fayne Eric Gelinas - Jon Merrill Anton Volchenkov - Marek Zidlicky
Injuries: Ryane Clowe, Stephen Gionta, Bryce Salvador, Adam Larsson, Ryan Carter.
Some notes:
- Peter Budaj is a good goaltender and an excellent backup, but he's not Carey Price so the Devils are getting a bit of a break here. They'll need to throw a lot of pucks on net and do a better job crashing for rebounds.
- The Devils only took two penalties last game, but that was still enough for the Canadiens to convert. They have an outstanding power play that stresses quick puck movement and not remaining stationary as players. That's very tough to cover, so the Devils will need to make sure they limit their penalties again tonight. If they take four or five, they'll be in trouble.
- Michael Ryder showed a pulse when he scored on a rocket of a shot Monday. He's always been a streak scorer so hopefully for the Devils this is the start of a good run.
- Devils top forward prospect and prolific goal scorer Reid Boucher has been recalled and will make his NHL debut tonight. Pete DeBoer is throwing him right in the fire as he'll start in the top-6 with Patrik Elias and Steve Bernier. When Boucher has the puck expect him to shoot…a lot.
- Offensively Gelinas played one of his best games on Monday. He made some good outlet passes, was very confident with the puck and was going on some PK Subban-type rushes. He had a couple hiccups in the defensive zone which he'll hopefully clean up. The Devils can't complain about what they've gotten out of him, though, as he's logged big minutes every night and has really helped out offensively - especially on the power play.
- Adam Henrique has points in three consecutive games and will centre Ryder and Brunner, both of whom have been better of late. Maybe Henrique's hot hand will be able to carry those guys with him.
- Cory Schneider enters tonight's game on a three-game winning streak and he's 3-1-1 with a .97 goals against average and .957 save percentage in his last five. If he continues to play as he has this season, especially of late, the Devils will have a good chance of winning this hockey game.
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