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The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (22-10-6) vs. the St. Louis Blues (24-15-2 SBNation; St. Louis Game Time)
The Time: 8:00 PM EST
The Broadcast: TV - MSG+2; Radio - TONJ
The Last Devils Game: The Devils were destroyed by the Capitals 5-2. The Devils were outshot 35-27, and Braden Holtby stoned the Devils. Tom Wilson scored 3 minutes into the game, with rookie defenseman Christian Djoos then scoring 10 minutes in. John Moore scored to cut the lead in half, and the first period ended 2-1. In the second, John Carlson scored on the powerplay to make it 3-1, and in the third Matt Niskanen scored to make it 4-1. Travis Zajac (!) scored a goal to cut the lead to 2 for the Capitals, but Nicklas Backstrom scored on the empty net to make it 5-2 and close the game. 3 goals by Capitals defensemen is what killed the Devils today.
The Last Blues Game: The Blues beat the Hurricanes 3-2. Kyle Brodziak opened the scoring for the Blues, his 7th of the year to put the Blues up 1-0. Berlund then scored in the 2nd to put the Blues up 2. Derek Ryan then scored to half the deficit for the Hurricanes, before Lucas Wallmark scored his first career NHL goal to give the Hurricanes the tie. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, veteran Scottie Upshall scored in the 3rd period, giving the Blues the lead and eventually the win.
Who to Watch?: The usual names. Brayden Schenn, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Alex Pietrangelo are all deadly offensively. Brayden Schenn currently is scoring at a point-per-game pace, and the trade looks like a steal for the Blues right now. Tarasenko is a dangerous scorer, and he can score from anywhere on the ice. Pietrangelo leads all Blues D-men in points and ice time. Other than those three, there’s plenty of depth forwards in Kyle Brodziak, Alex Steen, and Vladimir Sobotka. If you remember the last game the Devils played against the Blues, it was the defenseman who dominated the game. The Devils couldn’t get by the Blues D-men, with Edmundson and Parayko being especially good in that game. Let’s hope the Devils can break through this game.
Starting Goalie?: Hynes will make the decision tomorrow (as of writing) as to who will start for the Devils.
Look for Jake Allen to start for the Blues.
Thank you for reading, and have a great day!