Devils at Avalanche
THE STORY: Goals could be hard to come by when the Colorado Avalanche host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Colorado is third-worst in the NHL with 24 goals at home, where it is a league-worst 4-9-0. The Avalanche are 2-3-0 on their season-high eight-game homestand and have averaged 2.0 goals during that span. New Jersey has also scored 2.0 goals while splitting its last four games. The Devils, though, have won eight of their last 12, including five of seven on the road. The Avalanche are 3-9-1 in November, and must get its top line going. Colorado has received better goaltending of late from Semyon Varlamov, who has lost eight of his last nine games but has allowed two goals in each of his last three (1-2-0).
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (12-9-1): New Jersey has allowed an NHL-high five shorthanded goals, including the game-winner in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders when Michael Grabner stripped the puck from Ilya Kovalchuk and scored on a breakaway. The Devils are tied for second in the league with seven road wins. Future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur is 5-4-0 since returning from a shoulder injury.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (10-13-1): Milan Hejduk has gone seven games without a goal since becoming team captain on Nov. 14 and Paul Stastny doesn’t have a point in three of his last four games. “We’re squeezing the sticks,’’ Hejduk said. “It’s very frustrating.’’ Colorado took 36 shots in Monday’s 3-1 loss to Dallas, but many from long range. The Avalanche have won two straight over the Devils.
OVERTIME:
1. Colorado’s No. 2 power play (23.8 percent) squares off against New Jersey’s No. 1 penalty-killing unit (94.2), which has extinguished 24 straight power plays. The Avalanche, though, are 1 for their last 11 with the man advantage and only click at 15.2 percent at home.
2. The Devils are 1-7-0 in their last eight against a team with a winning percentage of less than .400 at home.