Devils at Rangers
THE STORY: A pair of red-hot teams do battle Tuesday when the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers host the New Jersey Devils in an Atlantic Division showdown. New Jersey enters with a four-game overall winning streak and three straight victories on the road. The surge has drawn the Devils within three points of Philadelphia for second in the Atlantic. New York is 4-0-1 in its last five, with the only blemish a shootout loss at New Jersey on Jan. 31. The Rangers have won 16 of 21 home games and 10 of their last 12 meetings with division rivals.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (Devils), MSG (Rangers)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (30-19-3): The All-Star break apparently did a world of good for Ilya Kovalchuk, who has registered three goals and seven assists in four games since the layoff. The former Maurice Richard Trophy winner has notched three points in each of his last three contests. Anton Volchenkov ended his 103-game goalless drought in Sunday's triumph over Pittsburgh. It was the defenseman's first tally since April 1, 2010 while with Ottawa.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (33-12-5): Artem Anisimov broke out of his slump with a goal and two assists in Sunday's victory over Philadelphia. The center had gone 17 games without a point and 18 since his last tally. Anisimov enjoys facing New Jersey as he has registered eight points in 14 career meetings with the Devils. Steve Eminger has been medically cleared to play after missing 17 games with a separated shoulder. The blueliner, who has been out of action since Dec. 17, has recorded two goals and two assists in 30 matches this season.
OVERTIME:
1. The Rangers are 6-2-1 in their last nine games against the Devils.
2. New Jersey has scored a total of 19 goals during its winning streak after netting one in each of its previous three contests - all losses.