Devils at Penguins
The New Jersey Devils began a season-high six-game road trip with impressive victories over three Western Conference heavyweights, only to find themselves against the ropes with back-to-back losses. The Devils hope to answer the bell in the finale of their trek on Friday, as they vie for their third win in as many meetings this season versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"The later it gets in March, and then in April, our group really has to learn quickly after the two (recent losses)," New Jersey coach John Hynes said. "I think there's a lot of things we can gather from these two games to make us a better team going into Pittsburgh and then Tampa (Saturday at home)." Taylor Hall, who scored for his career-high 32nd time in Tuesday's 6-2 setback in San Jose, collected a goal and two assists to power the Devils to pair of victories over the Penguins in February. While New Jersey holds the second wild card and is bidding to snap a five-season playoff drought, the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Penguins have loftier goals as they keep tabs on first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh posted its fourth straight home victory and 15th in its last 16 at PPG Paints Arena with a 5-3 triumph over Montreal on Wednesday, with the lone stumble being a 3-2 setback to the Devils on Feb. 27.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, TVAS, MSG-Plus (New Jersey), AT&T Sportsnet-Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE DEVILS (37-28-8): With Cory Schneider receiving a quick hook in his last outing and unable to break into the win column since Dec. 27, Hynes declared Keith Kinkaid as his starter for Friday's tilt. The 28-year-old Kinkaid has turned aside 51 of 54 shots to win both encounters versus Pittsburgh this season after losing his first three career matchups against the club. Travis Zajac has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last six games overall heading into a tilt with the Penguins, against whom he has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in the first two meetings this season.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (42-27-5): Superstar captain Sidney Crosby and fellow former Hart Trophy recipient Evgeni Malkin each had a goal and an assist against the Canadiens, with the former boosting his point total to 43 (10 goals, 33 assists) in his past 32 games while the latter has 59 (29 goals, 30 assists) in his past 37. Despite the gaudy numbers, Crosby insists the team can play much better as it heads toward the second season. "We're still working toward playing our best," the 30-year-old Crosby said. "We've got a number of games here that are really important, and we hope they bring the best out in us."
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh RW Phil Kessel set up a pair of goals against Montreal to increase his point total to 16 (five goals, 11 assists) in the past 13 contests.
2. New Jersey RW Stefan Noesen notched two assists in a 3-1 triumph over the Penguins on Feb. 3 before scoring the go-ahead goal 5:01 into the third period in the second meeting.
3. Pittsburgh C Jake Guentzel has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in the past 14 contests.