Hurricanes at Devils
The New Jersey Devils steadied their ship with a huge sweep of a back-to-back set over the weekend but have plenty of work to do to secure an Eastern Conference playoff spot as they prepare to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Devils had dropped two straight in California before edging Pittsburgh 4-3 in overtime on Friday to finish a 4-2-0 road trip and holding back Tampa Bay 2-1 the following night.
“Huge bouncebacks,” New Jersey captain Andy Greene told reporters. “That should give us the confidence for the last few weeks here to let us know that obviously we can play with anybody, and if we play the right way, we can beat anybody and give ourselves the best chance to win.” The Devils lead Florida by one point for the second wild-card spot but have played one more game, while Carolina is seven points back after recording a 4-1 win over Ottawa on Monday. The Hurricanes have won three in a row and four of five - scoring 22 goals in that stretch - to keep alive their slim hopes. Sebastian Aho has led the way of late, as he is riding a nine-game point streak during which he has notched four goals and eight assists to take over the team lead with 63 points.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Carolinas, MSG (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (34-31-11): Defenseman Justin Faulk (seven goals, 30 points) missed his second straight game Monday due to an upper-body injury, and his status for the contest against New Jersey is uncertain. Carolina has received contributions from rookie forwards down the stretch as Valentin Zykov has collected three goals and two assists in his last three games while Warren Foegele netted one tally and set up another in his NHL debut on Monday. Coach Bill Peters told reporters Cam Ward is an option for Tuesday after the veteran goaltender stopped 19-of-20 shots on Monday.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (39-28-8): Keith Kinkaid has taken advantage of his opportunity with No. 1 netminder Cory Schneider in and out of the lineup due to injuries and illness, going 6-1-0 in his last seven starts. “I felt pretty good last year,” Kinkaid told reporters. “Some ups and downs to start this season, but once you get on a roll, confidence can take you a long way. I feel as comfortable as ever.” Taylor Hall continues to add to his career highs (team-best 33 goals, 82 points), as he has scored two goals and set up four others over his last four contests.
OVERTIME
1. Carolina C Jordan Staal has collected two goals and four assists in his last six games to climb within seven points of the career high of 50 he set in 2011-12.
2. Hall’s 82 points are the most by a New Jersey player in one season since Ilya Kovalchuk registered 83 in 2011-12.
3. The Devils have won two of the previous three meetings this season and five of their last seven against the Hurricanes.