Hurricanes at Devils
After finding his scoring touch in a big way in the opener of a home-and-home series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Michael Cammalleri looks to continue his good fortune on Tuesday when the New Jersey Devils vie for a sweep at the Prudential Center. Cammalleri scored his first three goals of the season for his sixth career hat trick and his first of a natural variety on Sunday, leading New Jersey to a 4-1 victory over its Metropolitan Division rival.
"We didn't like the way things were going in the last couple," Cammalleri said. "To be able to nip that in the bud a little bit and now go back home means we can build on something." The 34-year-old Ontario native has been building something at the expense of Carolina, collecting five goals and four assists in his last six encounters. The Devils carry a 4-0-1 mark at home heading into the back end of the series versus the Hurricanes, who are making a brief stop in the Garden State before heading back to PNC Arena for five straight games. "Everyone was just a step behind and that it made it difficult for us to create more and play the way we want to play," veteran forward Jordan Staal told the Raleigh News & Observer of the Hurricanes' most recent performance.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, MSG-Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (3-5-3): Carolina began the season with seven power-play goals in as many games, but the team has been ice-cold with the man advantage to the tune of 0-for-12 in its last four games. "It comes down to execution," coach Bill Peters told the Raleigh News & Observer. "It comes down to confidence and it comes down to five guys doing their part. If you think it's going to be easy, it's not. Penalty killers are hard workers at every level, but especially in the National Hockey League." Peters had that underscored for him on Sunday after watching the anchor of his defense, Justin Faulk, exit with an undisclosed injury, leaving his availability for Tuesday's tilt in jeopardy.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (5-3-3): Travis Zajac set up Cammalleri's first goal to extend his point streak to three games overall and his career point total to 25 (nine goals, 16 assists) in 38 encounters versus Carolina. Workhorse goaltender Cory Schneider played in the front end of a back-to-back on Saturday and looks to rebound after a pair of four-goal performances when he returns home for Tuesday's tilt. The 30-year-old has won all four decisions and stopped 111 of 117 shots for a 1.50 goals-against average and .949 save percentage at the Prudential Center this season.
OVERTIME
1. Carolina LW Jeff Skinner had six goals and as many assists in nine games before being held in check by New Jersey.
2. The Devils failed on both power-play opportunities on Sunday and are 1-for-11 with the man advantage in the last four contests.
3. Hurricanes G Cam Ward has yielded just two goals in three of his last four games after permitting 12 in his previous three.