Wild at Devils
Taylor Hall is batting 1.000 in 2018, collecting at least one point in each of the 19 games since the calendar flipped to January. Due to an injury that sidelined him three games late last month, the NHL only counts the current 12-game point streak by Hall, who will lead the New Jersey Devils into Thursday night's clash against the visiting Minnesota Wild.
While the NHL does not officially recognize Hall's 19-game point string, the Wild players are certainly aware of it. "He must be feeling it offensively," Minnesota forward Zach Parise said. "That's a long time. That's like a month ... two months of points. That's when hockey is fun." The Devils had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 2-1 loss to Columbus on Tuesday, but they have dominated the Wild with five wins in a row and seven of eight in the series. Minnesota has struggled away from home but opened its three-game road trip with a 5-3 victory at the New York Islanders to improve to 4-1-2 in the last seven games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE WILD (32-20-7): Backup netminder Alex Stalock has split a pair of a decisions with a 3.51 goals-against average versus the Devils, but he will get the nod in the front end of a back-to-back. “We have to have both goalies playing well,” coach Bruce Boudreau said of the decision to give Stalock his first start since Feb. 3. “Plus, we have to play well in front of both goalies." Jason Zucker scored twice against the Islanders to boost his season total to 25, including 10 tallies in the past 15 games.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (31-21-8): Hall has scored in each of the last two games and has amassed seven goals over the last nine contests, moving him within two of matching his career-high total of 27 set in two separate seasons with Edmonton. Goaltender Cory Schneider, sidelined since Jan. 23 with a groin/hip issue, skated for the third straight day at Wednesday's optional practice and is moving closer to a return. Coach John Hynes said Schneider needs to go through a full practice before he can rejoin the lineup.
OVERTIME
1. Hall is a plus-15 during his last 19 games.
2. Wild D Matt Dumba collected two assists Monday to give him eight points in 10 games since the All-Star break.
3. The Devils are 1-for-21 on the power play over the past seven games.