Match-up - New Jersey Devils (20-18-11) @ Phoenix Coyotes (22-16-9) Road/Home records - 10-12-5 -------------- 13-7-3 TV - MSG, FS-A Puck drop - 8:00 PM ET Season series - 0-0 Last 10: Devils 5-2-3 / Coyotes 3-6-1 Projected starting goalies - Cory Schneider/Martin Brodeur vs Mike Smith
Projected lines for the Coyotes:
Tim Kennedy - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata Lauri Korpikoski - Antoine Vermette - Mikkel Boedker Shane Doan - Mike Ribeiro - David Moss Kyle Chipchura - Jeff Halpern - Jordan Szwarz
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Derek Morris Michael Stone - Keith Yandle Zybnek Michalek - David Schlemko
Projected lines for the Devils:
Dainius Zubrus - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr Ryan Clowe - Adam Henrique - Michael Ryder Reid Boucher - Patrik Elias - Steve Bernier Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Andrei Loktionov
Andy Greene - Mark Fayne Jon Merrill - Eric Gelinas Bryce Salvador - Marek Zidlicky
Injuries: Pete Harrold, Damien Brunner.
Game notes:
- The Phoenix Coyotes have been very un-Coyote-like this season in that they're a top-10 team in goals for per game. Not only are they scoring at a much higher rate than in prior years, but they're 7th last in goals against per game, an area they're usually quite good in. Call me crazy but I'm still expecting this to be a low-ish scoring game because of the coaches and the systems they use, but that's why they play the games.
- Phoenix is another team with a very good power play, so it's important for the Devils to stay disciplined and out of the box. If they play with fire they're going to get burnt.
- Mike Smith is coming off a shutout against Vancouver so he may be in the process of turning it around, but in nine appearances prior he did not record a single win. He's been quite mediocre this season, as his .911 save percentage and 2.85 goals against average can attest to, so the Devils best be throwing a lot of pucks on net tonight.
- One battle I'm looking forward to seeing tonight is Travis Zajac vs Martin Hanzal. They're similar players in that they're big, two-way centerman who's value is often undersold, however, both are key cogs in their team's success. I wonder if Zajac will have to be a little more physical when shadowing a big guy like Hanzal.
- After a bit of a dry spell offensively, Jaromir Jagr appears to be getting back on track. He has two points in his last two games and has 10 shots in that span.
- I thought Patrik Elias was very good in his return against Colorado, but he just couldn't get one to go. If he continues to play as he did Thursday, he won't stay off the scoresheet for much longer.
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