Canadiens Seek Eighth Straight Win Against Devils in Key Matchup

The Montreal Canadiens are poised to conclude their five-game road trip on Saturday night as they face off against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. This matchup marks the first of two encounters this weekend, with the teams set to meet again on Sunday at the Bell Centre. While the Devils have not yet been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, their season has been tumultuous, leaving them with only 80 points and in dire need of a miracle to re-enter the race.

Despite their struggles this season, the Devils have found some form recently, boasting a 7-3-0 record in their last ten games. They also triumphed in their only previous meeting with the Canadiens this season, edging out a 4-3 overtime win with Jakub Dobes in net. In contrast, the Canadiens are enjoying a stellar run, with an impressive 8-2-0 record in their last ten, including a seven-game winning streak. Much like Thursday’s contest against the New York Rangers, this matchup carries the potential of being a trap game for the Canadiens.

Neither team has confirmed their starting goaltender for the game, but with a back-to-back scenario looming, it’s likely both sides will utilize their goalies. On the Canadiens’ side, Dobes has faced the Devils twice this season and has fallen short both times, with a 3.82 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage against them. Meanwhile, Jacob Fowler has yet to make an appearance against New Jersey.

On the flip side, Jacob Markstrom holds a 10-8-3 record against the Canadiens, showcasing a solid 2.25 GAA and a .922 SV%, while former Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen stands at 5-5-0 with a 2.91 GAA and a .899 SV%. With potential lineup changes on the horizon, it will be intriguing to see how the Canadiens adjust. During a rare practice on Friday, both Kaiden Guhle and Phillip Danault were absent, receiving treatment instead of skating. Adam Engstrom, recently called up from the Laval Rocket following the injury news regarding Alexandre Carrier, has yet to make his NHL debut. However, both Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj have been performing well of late.

Mike Matheson leads the Canadiens in scoring against the Devils with 21 points in 32 games, followed closely by Danault with 15 points in 20 games, and Brendan Gallagher, who has 13 points in 31 matchups. The spotlight will undoubtedly be on Cole Caufield, who is just one goal shy of hitting the 50-goal milestone. He has recorded nine points in 11 games against the Devils, making it a strong possibility that he could reach that mark. Nick Suzuki is also nearing a personal milestone, needing six points to hit 100, although the Devils have not been his preferred opponent, as he has accumulated 10 points in 16 games against them. Defenseman Lane Hutson is just two points away from 75 this season but has struggled against New Jersey, going scoreless in five games. Juraj Slafkovsky also aims to reach 30 goals this season, though he has only found the net once against the Devils.

On the other side, the Devils feature three players who have scored 21 points against the Canadiens: Jack Hughes (in 13 games), Jesper Bratt (in 21 games), and Dougie Hamilton (in 32 games). All three are healthy and ready to pose a significant threat. Additionally, Timo Meier has made an impact with 15 points in just 16 games against Montreal.

Despite their struggles this season, the Devils have dominated the Canadiens in recent matchups, winning eight of the last ten encounters, including the last five. The Habs last played in New Jersey on January 17, 2024. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 PM, and fans can catch the action on NHLN, MSG, SNE, CITY, and TVAS, with Chris Rooney and Stephen Hiff officiating, supported by linesmen James Tobias and Ryan Gibbons.

Currently sitting at 98 points, the Canadiens are in close pursuit of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, both of whom have 100 points. As both teams play tonight, a loss could create a three-way tie in points, although Tampa would remain in first place due to a game in hand and more regulation wins than Montreal, who would move up to second place having played one less game than Buffalo.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.