Devils at Panthers
THE STORY: After watching his team end a three-game road trip
with a 6-1 throttling by the New York Rangers on Sunday, Kevin Dineen
was in no mood for excuses. The Southeast Division-leading Florida
Panthers yielded four goals in the second period and left New York with
their tails between their legs. "Anytime you get a tail kicking like
that, you say things like 'the will to compete,' " Dineen said. "It was
obvious their will was greater than ours. We didn't play as a group.
That's an old-fashioned tail kicking for sure." After dropping two in a
row, Florida will look to return to its winning ways when it opens a
four-game homestand against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. The
Panthers had won seven of their previous 10 games before the modest
skid. For its part, New Jersey collected its third win in eight games
with a 5-4 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), FS Florida
ABOUT THE DEVILS (15-13-1):
Captain Zach Parise continues to lead by example. He collected a goal
and two assists - all in the second period - to lift New Jersey to
victory on Monday. After being held off the scoresheet in Saturday's
loss to Montreal, Parise has recorded three goals and eight assists in
his last eight games. Right wing Cam Janssen (bruised sternum) was
activated from the injured list Monday, but sat out his fourth straight
contest. He is expected to play Tuesday. Future Hall of Famer Martin
Brodeur will start Tuesday and is looking to avenge a Nov. 19 loss to
the Panthers.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (16-9-5): Left wing Matt
Bradley returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 15. So with
Bradley back on the ice, Dineen opted to make center Mike Santorelli a
healthy scratch Sunday. "I'm not a message sender; he just has to play
better," Dineen said. "He's going to get his opportunity somewhere down
the line. He has to be better to go. It's a whole snapshot of his recent
play." Signed to a two-year deal in the off-season, Santorelli had 20
goals while playing in all 82 games last season. The 25-year-old has
four goals this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Devils center
Travis Zajac is on pace to make his season debut as early as Friday's
game versus the Stars. Zajac, 26, has been sidelined since August after
undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon.
2. Panthers center Stephen Weiss has collected three goals and four assists in his last five contests.