Senators and Devils Preview

Each team has made a shift in coaching. Both have seen legendary franchise players (Daniel Alfredsson and Martin Brodeur) hang up their skates. Now the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils are virtually in the same spot positionally in the Eastern Conference standings. Neither has fallen off the cliff but each respective club is attempting to find its footing in the second half of the NHL campaign.

For the Senators (20-19-9, 49 points) this represents contest 49, while the Devils (19-22-9, 47 points) are playing team game 51. Between the pipes, it’s Robin Lehner for the Sens and Cory Schneider for the Devils. Officiating the contest are Brad Meier (34) and Brian Pochmara (16) and the linesmen are Steve Miller (89) and Derek Nansen (70).

Ottawa is 4-4-2 in its last ten and is coming off a 7-2 thrashing of the Arizona Coyotes. Meanwhile, New Jersey sports a ledger of 6-2-2 in its last ten and is also fresh off a convincing 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Tonight, the @NHLDevils look to defend home ice against the Senators. Join us for #NJDevils action at 630P on MSG+.https://t.co/QL99Y1Vvom

— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) February 3, 2015

Who’s streaking?:

• Mika Zibanejad carries a three-game goal-scoring string into this evening’s contest for the Sens.

• Bobby Ryan has posted a goal in two consecutive contests for Ottawa.

• Steve Bernier, likewise has netted a goal in two consecutive games for the Devils.

Head to head:

• When they last met, Ottawa turned the tables, scoring a 2-0 blanking, backstopped by Craig Anderson’s 34-saves. Kyle Turris potted the eventual winner, at New Jersey.

•  In their first meeting at Ottawa, the Devils edged the Senators, 3-2. Jaromir Jagr tallied the deciding marker in overtime.

Sens snapshots:

• Turris paces all Ottawa players with 19 points away from the Canadian capital this season.
• Mike Hoffman leads the club with eight tallies on the road on the campaign.
• Ottawa ranks 15th with a 15.9% power play on the road.
• At 80.6%, Ottawa is 14th on the road penalty kill.
• Jared Cowen is primed to become the 15th defenceman in club history to register 200 career games played.

Devils details:

• Mike Cammalleri and his six game-winning tallies are tied for the NHL lead.
• Jagr (715) is just two goals shy of tying Phil Espositio for fifth on the all-time list.
• Patrik Elias remains one goal away from 400 on his career.
• At 78.9%, New Jersey is 25th in the league at home on the penalty kill.
• With the extra attacker, the Devils 17.6% conversion rate, ranks 22nd in the league.

Puck drop at Prudential Center is slated for 7 PM.