Match-up - New Jersey Devils (20-18-10) @ Colorado Avalanche (29-12-5)
Road/Home records - 10-12-4 -------------- 16-6-3
TV - MSG Plus 2, Alt
Puck drop - 9:00 PM ET
Season series - 0-0
Last 10: Devils 5-2-3 / Avalanche 6-2-2
Projected starting goalies - Cory Schneider vs Semyon Varlamov



Projected lines for the Avalanche:

Gabriel Landeskog - Matt Duchene - Ryan O'Reilly
John Mitchell - Nathan MacKinnon - Jamie McGinn
Cody McLeod - Max Talbot - Patrick Bordeleau
Brad Malone - Marc-Andre Cliche

Jan Hejda - Erik Johnson
Ryan Wilson - Karl Stollery
Tyson Barrie - Andre Benoit

Injuries: Alex Tanguay, PA Parenteau, Paul Stastny, JS Giguere

Projected lines for the Devils:

Dainius Zubrus - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr
Ryan Clowe - Adam Henrique - Michael Ryder
Ryan Carter - Patrik Elias - Steve Bernier
Reid Boucher - Stephen Gionta -

Andy Greene - Mark Fayne
Jon Merrill - Marek Zidlicky
Bryce Salvador - Anton Volchenkov
Eric Gelinas

Injuries: Pete Harrold, Damien Brunner.

Game notes:

- The Devils aren't an overly fast team by any stretch, and they'll be tested tonight as they take on a team all about speed and pace. The Avalanche like to move the puck north-south, and in a hurry, so Devils players need to make sure their feet are moving at all times. If they get caught flat footed or are too stationary the Avalanche forwards will blow by them and create a lot of scoring chances.

- Another key for the Devils will be to stay disciplined. Typically they're pretty good in that regard and they'll need to be good again tonight. If they keep their feet moving and watch their sticks *cough, Zidlicky, cough* then they should be OK. The Devils have an excellent penalty kill, but you don't want to mess around with a power play like Colorado's.

- Adam Henrique has quietly produced offense on a regular basis of late. He has four points in his last three games and 10 points in his last 10 games. He seems to be fitting in quite nicely with Ryane Clowe and Michael Ryder.

- Speaking of Clowe, he has points in his last five games and seven points over that span. He's a pretty immobile player but due to his ability to win battles along the boards and his hockey sense, he's been able to produce anyways. Tonight will be a big test for him going up against a speed team in Colorado.

- After a bit of a rough patch, Matt Duchene appears to be picking it up of late as he's recorded points in consecutive games. Travis Zajac will have his hands full tonight.

- Patrik Elias will make his return to the lineup and should provide a big boost to the Devils offense. Despite playing in only 33 of the Devils' 48 games to date, he remains tied for 2nd on the team in points in 25.

- Cory Schneider has a .921 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average on the year, yet has just seven wins in 22 starts. He's starting to win more of late, though, as he's won two of his last three starts and has earned the Devils at least a point in all three. Martin Brodeur has apparently been helping him out with his puck handling, so perhaps Schneider will be able to take matters into his own hands by scoring a few himself.

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