About the Devils - 12-30-09
A preview of the Devils.
When and where: 7 p.m., Prudential Center.
TV: FSN Pittsburgh, MSG Plus.
Record: 27-9-1, 55 points. The Devils are in first place in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division.
Leading Scorer: Zach Parise, 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists).
Last Game: 3-2 home win against the Thrashers, Monday. Parise scored two goals.
Last Game against the Penguins: 4-0 road win, Dec. 21. Brent Johnson stopped all 14 shots he faces. Martin Brodeur (right) set some record or something.
Devils Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Niclas Bergfors. He has scored in all three meetings against the Penguins and has six points (three goals, three assists) in those games.
Ex-Penguins on the Devils: Tommy Plasko, massage therapist.
Ex-Devils on the Penguins: Bill Guerin, RW; Mike Rupp, C.
Useless Devils Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins: The first unsuccessful penalty shot in Devils history was recorded by former Penguin Mark Johnson. He was stopped by Penguins goaltender Pat Riggin in a 6-3 home win, Oct. 9, 1987.
Best Devils YouTube Video We Could Find: Former Penguins forward Kevin Stevens going at it with former Devils forward Brendan Shanahan early in the 1990-91 season:
Notes:
-Brent Johnson (4-2-0, 2.68 GAA, .912 SV%) and Martin Brodeur (24-9-1, 2.15 GAA, .920 SV%) are your expected starters in net.
-For the Penguins, Marc-Andre Fleury (third-degree burns) is probable.
(That's a joke, relax.)
-For the Devils, defenseman Bryce Salvador (lower body) is questionable. Forwards Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond ("upper body"), Dainius Zubrus (knee) and former Canadian Prime Minister defenseman Paul Martin (arm) are on injured reserve.
-What changes should the Penguins make to beat the Devils (PG+)?
-With Letourneau-Leblond and Salvador dinged up, the Devils recalled defenseman Matthew Corrente from Lowell of the AHL.
-Devils enforcer Andrew Peters was kicked out of Monday's game for not having his fight strap tied down.
-At 48.3 percent, the Devils aren't exactly all that stellar in the faceoff circle.
-The Penguins aren't the only ones dealing with a tough pair of back-to-back games. The Devils host the powerful Blackhawks and former teammate John Madden tomorrow.
-Free legal online broadcast alert: Tonight's game is available on Yahoo! to those within in the United States and outside the Pittsburgh and Newark markets.
-Our live blog begins at approximately 7 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: eBay)