GDT: Canadians @ Devils, 7:00 PM

[SJinNewJersey]

PRE-GAME STORY​

NEWARK, N.J. - The Devils held their morning skate at Prudential Center. The only absent player was defenseman John Marino.
"John is sick. He'll end up being a game-time decision," head coach Lindy Ruff said.
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood left the skate early.
"Just tweaked something," Ruff said. "He's talking to the trainers."



The team used the following workflow at skate…
Tatar - Hischier - Mercer
Sharangovich - Hughes - Bratt
Palat - Haula - Zetterlund
Wood - McLeod - Boqvist
(Bastian)
Smith - Hamilton
Graves - Severson
Seigenthaler - Bahl
Vanecek in the starter's net
Home Cookin'
The Devils struggled at home during the early portion of the season. The club was 10-10-2 in the first 22 contests at Prudential Center. But since then, the Devils have won six straight at home.
"Our road record was impressive and made our home one look worse than what it was," said forward Dawson Mercer, referencing the team's NHL-record breaking road success. "We've been using it to our advantage. These last few games we've been putting in the time. We've really taken over some games and used that to our advantage."

Dawson's Creek
Devils forward Dawson Mercer has four goals in his past three games and has generated a lot more scoring opportunities over that span. The past two games, Mercer has been elevated to a line featuring himself, captain Nico Hischier and forward Tomas Tatar.
"The two of them are unbelievable players, two-way guys," Mercer said. "I've been going to the net. A lot of my goals have been coming right in front. I'm happy to put those in. It's been a lot of fun."
Hischier has seen personally the impact Mercer can have on a line.
"If he's out there you know you'll get a 100-percent effort from him in any place, offensively or defensively," Hischier said. "He creates a lot with his speed as well. A smart hockey player all around in all three zones."



The Habs and Habs Nots
The Devils are in a proverbial "trap game." The Canadiens have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, and the Devils need to guard against overlooking them as an opponent.
"I saw a team that just played Carolina and it was 2-2 after periods. I saw some real good quality chances that they created off the rush," Ruff said. "They're playing hard. I know they've lost a couple. Previous to that they won a few games. They're playing with a lot of energy. They've got good speed up front. You have to treat them with a lot of respect.
"Our team has grown to a point where we understand there are no easy games. It really doesn't matter who you're playing, if you don't play your best game you're not going to win in this league."

PREVIEW​

DEVILS (37-14-5) vs. CANADIENS (23-29-4)
TV: 7:00 p.m. ET; Televised on MSGSN
RADIO: 7:00 p.m. ET; Live on Devils Hockey Network
Head-to-Head:
The Devils face the Canadiens for the second time this season, and first at home. The Devils earned a 5-1 victory Nov. 15 in Quebec. Center Jack Hughes had two goals and three points in the game. Jesper Bratt, Dougie Hamilton and John Marino also chipped in goals. Evgenii Dadonov had the lone Canadiens goal.
Devils Team Scope:
The Devils are in the midst of a four-game homestand, beginning with a 4-2 victory against Winnipeg Sunday night. The win was the sixth straight home win for New Jersey, five of which the team trailed. The Devils are in second place in the Metro Division (three points behind Carolina).
Forward Dawson Mercer has scored four goals in his last three games, which includes a three-game goal scoring streak and a two-goal effort against the Jets. Captain Nico Hischier has five points in his last two games, which includes a career-high four points against Pittsburgh (2g-2a). Goaltender Vitek Vanecek is riding a 13-game point streak (12-0-1), which included a 10-game winning streak. He is one shy of tying Martin Brodeur for the franchise record.
Canadiens Team Scope:
The Canadiens find themselves in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference, nine points ahead of Columbus. The Habs exited the All-Star break by sweeping a three-game homestand (NY Islanders, Edmonton, Chicago), but have lost their last two games on the road (Carolina, Toronto).
Cole Caufield leads with the team with 26 goals while Nick Suzuki has a team-best 42 points on 17 goals and 25 assists. Only four Habs players have double digits in goals (Caufield; Suzuki; Anderson, 16; Dach, 12). Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault have split the net.
By the Numbers:
The Devils' 37 wins through 56 games is the most in franchise history to start a season.
Injuries:
Devils:
Bernier (LTIR, hip)
Canadiens
Caufield (shoulder)
Wideman (undisclosed)
Guhle (knee)
Monahan (lower-body)
Evans (lower-body)
Slafkovsky (lower-body)
Gallagher (lower-body)
Byron (hip)
Price (knee, LTIR)

Click to read more...

 

[DevilsHughes86]

LGD, do not lose to the Habs, don't want to get a headache tomorrow at work!!

 

[glenwo2]

NO EXCUSE to lose to the Habs.

NONE.


Get it done, Devils.

WIN.

 

[Devs3cups]

Can’t wait for the mental breakdown here if we drop this one.

Please just save us the headache, Devils.

LGD

 

[DevilsHughes86]

Can’t wait for the mental breakdown here if we drop this one.

Please just save us the headache Devils.

LGD

Really no worried, Jack will have a 5pts night!

 

[NjDevsRR]

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

LGD!!

 

[Louskoolaid89]

Read above what coach Ruff said. Now they just need to take action. Montreal is kinda like our team last year. Lose but, can skill it up even without Caulfield and others and they don't have as horrific goaltending like we did last season. Im back from Florida after 9 days of attending live auto racing including the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Still watched all of our games at least portions from the packed grandstands down there! Now that I got my racing fix my focus is in high gear towards Devils hockey. Be awesome to catch Carolina and avoid an exciting but, stressful series with the Rats. Get the V-Tech wound up and let's just send it down the the stretch and catch that team from Nascar country. LFGD!

 

[Clam Jensen]

Win by a lot por favor y gracias

 

[glenwo2]

Win by a lot por favor y gracias

Just win.

Preferably in regulation.

Rags losing gives us a big opportunity here.

 

[Bleedred]

We haven't put on a good beatdown in a while

I'd love to blow them up for 7 tonight.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Habs are a fun bad team, really like what Gorton and Kent Hughes have done there so far.

 

[The Wumpus]

 

[Louskoolaid89]

We haven't put on a good beatdown in a while

I'd love to blow them up for 7 tonight.

Even Haula-Wood can get in their kicks!

 

[bossram]

Looks like we're clicking again. Big dub coming up! LGD!

 

[Cheddabombs]

One win and one Timo please

 

[Nocashstyle]

The only reason they’re playing this game is to scout Josh Anderson and decide how many 1st round picks they should give up for him.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

LGD.

 

[BahlDeep]

Read above what coach Ruff said. Now they just need to take action. Montreal is kinda like our team last year. Lose but, can skill it up even without Caulfield and others and they don't have as horrific goaltending like we did last season. Im back from Florida after 9 days of attending live auto racing including the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Still watched all of our games at least portions from the packed grandstands down there! Now that I got my racing fix my focus is in high gear towards Devils hockey. Be awesome to catch Carolina and avoid an exciting but, stressful series with the Rats. Get the V-Tech wound up and let's just send it down the the stretch and catch that team from Nascar country. LFGD!

Wrong board bud...

Canes board is this way: Carolina Hurricanes

 

[AfroThunder396]

Ottawa has better poutine than Montreal tbh

 

[Saugus]

Dear God, that Montreal injury list is ridiculously long. They were already bad before, but now there's an excuse for it.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Ottawa has better poutine than Montreal tbh

The smoked meat is the real treat anyway

 

[NJDevs26]

We haven't put on a good beatdown in a while

I'd love to blow them up for 7 tonight.

Last time we did that we got St. Louis the job there lol

 

[Clam Jensen]

Dear God, that Montreal injury list is ridiculously long. They were already bad before, but now there's an excuse for it.

They have a bakers dozen of injured players

 

[captainscott12]

Can’t wait for the mental breakdown here if we drop this one.

Please just save us the headache, Devils.

LGD

in all they have been ok in potential " let down" games