About the Devils - 10-24-09
A preview of the Devils.
When and where: 7:30 p.m., Mellon Arena.
TV: FSN Pittsburgh, MSG Plus 2.
Record: 5-3-0, 10 points. The Devils are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and third place in the Atlantic Division.
Leading Scorer: Zach Parise (right), 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists).
Last Game: 4-2 road win against the Rangers, Thursday. Parise had two goals and an assist.
Last Game against the Penguins: 6-1 road loss, April 6. Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz each had a goal and an assist.
Devils Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: We'll go with the obvious pick and take Parise. He has points in six of his eight games this season, and has scored goals in three consecutive 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: New Jersey's Martin Brodeur has recorded 102 career shutouts, one short of Terry Sawchuk's NHL record. The Penguins have accounted for five of those shutouts.
Best Devils YouTube Video We Could Find: Mike Rupp, then of the Devils, making quick work of former Thrashers defenseman Braydon Coburn, currently of the Flyers:
(How about the subtle political lecture from Glenn "Chico" Resch?)
Notes:
-Marc-Andre Fleury (8-0-0, 1.96 GAA, .926 SV%) and Martin Brodeur (5-3-0, 2.59 GAA, .907 SV%) are the expected starters in net.
-For the Penguins, forward Jordan Staal (undisclosed) is probable. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar (wrist) is out. Forward Maxime Talbot (shoulder) is on injured reserve.
-For the Devils, defenseman Mike Mottau (hip) id out. Forward Patrik Elias (groin) is on injured reserve.
-Fleury didn't mind a night off.
-"They’re at their best right now." - Devils coach Jacques Lemaire on the Penguins.
-Elias is expected to start practicing "soon."
-Rookie defenseman Mark Fraser is expected to replace Mottau in the lineup.
-Our live blog begins at approximately 6:30 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)