Devils at Jets
The road has been anything but kind to the New Jersey Devils this season as they seek their second victory away from home this season Sunday when they conclude a seven-game trip at the Winnipeg Jets. The Devils were blown out 6-1 on Friday in Toronto to drop to 1-6-0 on the road and have allowed 13 goals in their past two games, and after a promising four-game winning streak to open the season, New Jersey has five points in its past 10 games.
“We have to right the ship here very soon,” Devils forward Brian Boyle told reporters after Friday’s game. “We have a group in here that certainly cares a lot, that’s never an issue.” The Devils next face a Winnipeg squad that showed no rust Friday from a week off after a two-game series in Finland as Blake Wheeler’s career night powered the Jets to a 5-2 home triumph over Colorado. The Jets captain finished with his first five-point night, scoring an empty-net goal after assisting on Winnipeg’s first four tallies. “You come into games like this -- a divisional opponent at home -- your mindset is to find a way to get a win,” Wheeler told the media afterward. “You’re not so much thinking about offense or how you’re going to score goals or make plays.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network (New Jersey), Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (6-7-1): Keith Kinkaid started in goal Friday and after stopping 14-of-15 shots in the opening 20 minutes, he was overwhelmed -- along with the Devils defense -- in the second period. New Jersey was tied for 27th in the NHL entering Saturday in goals allowed per game (3.5). Center Travis Zajac scored for New Jersey in the second period against Toronto, while forward Kyle Palmieri has three goals in his past 10 games after scoring seven in the opening four contests.
ABOUT THE JETS (9-5-1): Wheeler, who finished tied for the NHL lead in assists last season with 68, sits one off the league lead with 18 on the season -- nine in his past three games. Forward Patrik Laine extended his goal-scoring streak to three games with a power-play tally, giving him five goals in that span. Connor Hellebuyck was sharp early against the Avalanche, making 28 saves to win for the second time in his past three starts.
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg finished 2-for-4 on the power play Friday, and has scored at least one goal with the man advantage in 11 consecutive games.
2. The Devils gave up four goals in the second period Friday, the most they have surrendered in one period this season.
3. New Jersey has been outscored 29-15 through the first six games of its road trip.