Jets at Devils
Little is at stake when the New Jersey Devils host the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday in a matchup of slumping clubs and with a major snowstorm expected to dump a foot or so on the greater New York City area, the seats could be nearly empty. New Jersey extended its losing streak to 10 games (0-8-2) with a 5-4 loss in Arizona on Saturday while Winnipeg dropped a 5-4 overtime decision in Nashville on Monday for its fourth straight loss (0-3-1).
“I think sometimes it maybe affects you more at a home game,” Devils coach John Hynes told reporters about the smattering of fans expected at the Prudential Center on Tuesday. “You’re at home and you don’t have that advantage. You don’t have a lot of fans in the stands. If that happens, we’ll make sure we address it.” New Jersey's losing streak is its longest since a 0-6-4 run from March 25-April 15, 2013 and the Devils' last 11-game winless streak came in 1990-91, when they lost seven and tied four. The Jets are one of six teams in the NHL that yield more than three goals per contest, allowing 18 during their slide. Winnipeg prevailed in the first of two meetings this season 3-2 on Nov. 29 behind goals from rookie Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE JETS (30-33-7): Laine scored his team-leading 33rd goal Monday and leads all rookies in goals and points (60). Winnipeg's blueline corps took another hit when Jacob Trouba (upper-body injury) did not play Monday after testing his ailment in the morning skate, joining Toby Enstrom (concussion) and Tyler Myers (lower-body) on the sidelines. Trouba (six goals), who has 27 of his 99 career points this season, could play Tuesday as coach Paul Maurice told reporters: “Yeah, we can be hopeful. We'll see how he feels (Tuesday).”
ABOUT THE DEVILS (25-31-12): Kyle Palmieri (team-high 22 goals) and Taylor Hall (club-most 29 assists) lead New Jersey with 44 points apiece with Palmieri (95 goals, 95 assists in his career) recording his third two-goal game of the season Saturday - with all coming since Jan. 31. Travis Zajac (13 goals, 39 points), who is pointless in his last five games, returns to the lineup after missing Saturday's contest to be with his wife Nikki, who gave birth to their third child - a daughter named Anya Zia. Michael Cammalleri (10 goals), who hasn't recorded a point in seven games, will miss his sixth straight contest Tuesday with a shoulder injury.
OVERTIME
1. The Devils went winless in a franchise-record 18 straight games (14 losses, four ties) from Oct. 20-Nov. 26, 1982.
2. The Jets are 2-8-2 versus the Metropolitan Division while New Jersey is 5-5-2 against the Central.
3. Winnipeg is 6-4-2 in the second contest of back-to-back games this season.