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Match-up - New Jersey Devils (29-25-13) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (35-24-7)
Road/Home records - 13-17-6 -------------- 18-8-5
TV - MSG, SUN
Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET
Season series - Devils lead 2-0
Last 10: Devils 6-4-0 | Lightning 3-5-2
Projected starting goalies - Martin Brodeur vs Ben Bishop
Projected lines for the Lightning:
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson - Steven Stamkos
Ondrej Palat - Valtteri Filppula - Ryan Callahan
Richard Panik - Tom Pyatt - Teddy Purcell
J.T. Brown - Nate Thompson - Nikita Kucherov
Victor Hedman - Sami Salo
Matt Carle - Radko Gudas
Eric Brewer - Mike Kostka
Projected lines for the Devils:
Tuomo Ruutu - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr
Dainius Zubrus - Patrik Elias - Michael Ryder
Ryane Clowe - Adam Henrique - Damien Brunner
Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier
Andy Greene - Mark Fayne
Jon Merrill - Marek Zidlicky
Bryce Salvador - Anton Volchenkov
Game notes:
- Tonight will mark Martin Brodeur's third start in four games. He's won four straight starts and has allowed only nine goals in that span, while Cory Schneider has allowed 15 goals in his last three starts; all three of which were losses. The Devils need as many points as they can get so Brodeur picked a good time to get on a nice little roll. If he keeps playing well he'll get his fair share of starts down the stretch.
- Tampa Bay is pretty inexperienced, but they're loaded with young talent and speed. The Devils tend to struggle against teams that push the pace if they don't stick to the game plan so that'll be key tonight. They'll have to keep their feet moving at all times or they'll be burned regularly and will probably get into penalty trouble.
- Michael Ryder hasn't scored in 21 consecutive games. There's been times where he's had handfuls of chances and looked on the verge of a breakout, be he just hasn't been able to put it together. If the Devils are to make the playoffs, they'll need some sort of production from him down the stretch.
- Speaking of struggling players, how poor has Dainius Zubrus been this year? He started off strong, but has just four points in his last 30 contests. Looks like he's declining pretty quickly.
- Travis Zajac enters tonight's contest having recorded five points in his last three contests. He's been playing excellent defensively all season so it's nice to see him finding his stride offensively as well. He'll probably finish the season with about 50 points, which is solid when you factor in the competition he's faced on a nightly basis. He's been criticized by fans consistently and I've essentially carried his water all year so this stretch has been pretty enjoyable for me.
- Depending on what happens with the Flyers and elsewhere in the NHL, the Devils could find themselves tied for a playoff spot with a win tonight.
- I'll be taking in the Peterborough Petes @ Barrie Colts game tonight and scouting Nick Ritchie, Eric Cornel, Brendan Lemieux and Aaron Ekblad, among others, so I won't see the Devils game. They've done very well when I miss their games this year so they'll probably win once again. You can thank me later.
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