Red Wings at Devils
The New Jersey Devils currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division, but if they continue to struggle as they have over their last nine games, the bottom of the standings is a real possibility in the near future. The Devils, who are in the midst of a five-season playoff drought, have won only two of their last nine contests (2-4-3) as they prepare to host the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.
New Jersey could have Cory Schneider (illness) back in net Monday as it begins a stretch of four home games over the next six, but the team gave up three goals in the first 12 1/4 minutes at Philadelphia on Saturday en route to a 3-1 setback. “We didn’t really give ourselves a chance, at least to start the game,” Devils leading scorer Taylor Hall told reporters after the loss. “I think we’ve got to keep things more simple.” Detroit continues to slide toward a second straight season without a playoff appearance after losing for the fourth time in five contests Saturday. “We can’t look at the (playoff) picture right now,” Red Wings veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall told reporters after the 3-1 home setback against Carolina. “We’ve got to look at some video, figure out what we are doing wrong and go from there. We’ve got a few more games before the (All-Star) break, and we need to get some wins.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, FS Detroit, MSG (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (18-20-7): Detroit produced one of its best performances of the season on Jan. 14 with a 4-0 victory at Chicago, but it has mustered a total of 39 shots in a pair of losses since. “It’s hard to get shots through, but we make it even harder when we have good chances and we’re passing up shots,” captain Henrik Zetterberg told reporters. “We have have to take our opportunities and get pucks on net.” Dylan Larkin notched an assist on Saturday and leads the team with 36 points (seven goals), which already is four more than he totaled in 80 games last season.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (24-13-8): Schneider has missed the last three games but practiced on Sunday and is expected to get the start against Detroit, according to coach John Hynes. Backup Keith Kinkaid suffered a lower-body injury during Saturday’s loss and was placed on injured reserve while the undrafted Ken Appleby was forced to make his NHL debut, stopping all 24 shots he faced. Hall has recorded at least one point in seven straight games to push his season total to 48, recording five goals and seven assists during the streak, and is expected to play after missing practice Sunday for maintenance.
OVERTIME
1. Trevor Daley (lower body) is not expected to play Monday, prompting Detroit to recall fellow D Joe Hicketts from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.
2. New Jersey LW Brian Gibbons (12 goals, 23 points) was placed on IR after leaving Saturday’s game with a hand injury.
3. The Devils won both of the previous meetings this season, including 3-1 at home on Dec. 27, and are 5-2-1 in their last eight versus Detroit.