New Jersey (6-4-0) at Boston (5-4-1)

  • Game info: 7:00 pm EDT Thu Oct 29, 2009
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By KATE HEDLIN, STATS Writer Oct 29, 12:55 am EDT

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The New Jersey Devils can’t seem to solve their struggles at home. Fortunately, they’ve been perfect on the road.

The short-handed Devils look to bounce back from a poor effort and remain undefeated as a visitor Thursday night when they meet the Boston Bruins, who are dealing with injury issues as well.

In its first game without defenseman Paul Martin(notes) (broken left arm) and left wing Jay Pandolfo(notes) (separated right shoulder), each of whom are expected to miss at least four weeks, New Jersey (6-4-0) was lackluster in a 4-1 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday.

During their lowest-scoring game of the season, the Devils gave up more than two goals for only the second time in the last seven games.

“Obviously, they came out strong, more prepared, the way we should have been,” defenseman Johnny Oduya(notes) said.

Andy Greene(notes) scored on the power play and Martin Brodeur(notes) made 23 saves for New Jersey, which fell to 1-4-0 at home.

On the road, though, it’s a different story. New Jersey is 5-0-0 in opponent’s rinks this season with Brodeur posting a 1.95 goals-against average.

Brodeur, the all-time wins leader who remains one shutout shy of tying Terry Sawchuk’s NHL record of 103, has won seven of his last nine starts against Boston (5-4-1), posting a 2.07 GAA. After missing four months following elbow surgery, he made only one start against the Bruins last season, stopping 26 shots in a 4-1 road loss on March 22.

The Devils have alternated wins and losses in their last six visits to Boston.

The Bruins have shown consistency can be a problem for them so far. They’re looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season following a thrilling 4-3 shootout victory over Ottawa on Saturday.

The Bruins scored twice in the final 1:28 in regulation to tie the game and Patrice Bergeron(notes) scored the lone shootout goal. Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas(notes) made 27 saves through overtime for his fourth win of the season.

“I thought we were going to lose once we were down 3-1 with two minutes left,” Thomas said. “You never give, but I don’t think anybody in the building expected that.”

Thomas, who has won his last two starts, was 2-1-1 with a 1.50 goals-against average last season against the Devils.

Boston also lost two key players recently. Forwards Marc Savard(notes) (broken foot) and Milan Lucic(notes) (broken finger) are expected to miss at least the next month.

After a slow start, the Bruins believe they’re ready to get on a roll after coming away with points in their last three games.

“It’s one of those things where we’ve always been underdogs every year … and we’ve worked our way up,” coach Claude Julien told the Bruins’ official Web site. “And now expectations are high and you need to know how to handle those things.”

Updated Oct 29, 12:55 am EDT
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
New Jersey 22 15 6 1 31 2nd, Atlantic 61 49 9-2-1 Road
Boston 24 12 8 4 28 1st, Northeast 59 59 6-5-2 Home

Notes

Last game: 4-3 loss vs. Carolina, April 28 Series: Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinals, 4-3 Less than 90 seconds away from a second-round matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Devils allowed two goals in a 48-second span and were eliminated by the Hurricanes. ... RW Jamie Langenbrunner registered a game-high seven shots on goal. After the devastating loss, Langenbrunner admitted he underwent knee surgery following Game Two of the series, forcing him to miss the next three contests. ... LW Brendan Shanahan recorded two assists in what may have been his final NHL game. The 40-year-old signed with the Devils in mid-January after sitting out the first half of the season as a free agent.

Apr 29, 12:03 am EDT

The Bruins won the Eastern Conference quarterfinal for their first playoff series win in 10 years. ... RW Michael Ryder, who signed as a free agent after he was a healthy scratch for all but four of the Montreal Canadiens' 12 playoff games last season, scored twice on Wednesday. He recorded 27 goals in 74 regular-season contests. ... LW Milan Lucic returned to the Bruins' lineup after serving a one-game league suspension Monday and fought with Mike Komisarek late in the second period. ... RW Byron Bitz was left out of the lineup. Bitz replaced Lucic in the lineup Monday and recorded an assist in his playoff debut.

Apr 23, 12:02 am EDT
NHL

21 Comments

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  1. P&L A
    21. Posted by P&L A Fri Oct 30 9:22pm EDT

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    Why //aren't you guys out chasing @#$% tonight? And I'm a woman!!!!
  2. Andrew
    20. Posted by Andrew Fri Oct 30 3:15pm EDT

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    The New Jersey Devils are tought team on defence. I have only seen them play the Pens and last night Boston. Intresting to see how the Devils do this year and with there new head coach.
  3. Matt V
    19. Posted by Matt V Fri Oct 30 2:44pm EDT

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    @ rhyss pieces- Thanks for appreciating my genius! If i had to predict the scorer, I would have gone with Bergeron. I know, not exactly going out on a limb with that since i saw in the preview that he was leading the team in points and goals. As for those lotto numbers, if I hit the MegaMillions tonight, I'll be on here at 11:01 bragging about my newfound wealth!
  4. Spock
    18. Posted by Spock Fri Oct 30 10:53am EDT

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    What comes around goes around. The Bruins should have lost on Saturday against the Senators, but won in the last few minutes of the game (combined with overtime). Last night the exact opposite happened.
    The Bruins are gradually improving in their game play, and controlled a good portion of last night's game. But the Devils made the most of their scoring opportunities.
  5. Tyson
    17. Posted by Tyson Fri Oct 30 8:26am EDT

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    Hay brett... were you on the yankees blog?
    Anyways GO DEVILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    How about getting some wins on home ice?
  6. Brett W
    16. Posted by Brett W Fri Oct 30 5:21am EDT

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    Devils= best team in the east.
  7. black_adder_us
    15. Posted by black_adder_us Fri Oct 30 12:26am EDT

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    The Devils played well tonight. They played without a couple of key players, and the players who filled the spots played well. However, this season is an aberration. It started early. It's ending late. There is a 2 week break for the Olympics. In short there will be no meaningful games until February.

    Oh, to the Rangers' fans out there - Torts has a way of burning a team out. I suspect that's one of the reasons that Gomer went north.

    To steal a line from the movie "Road to Monaco", happy fangs”.

    Let's Go Devile! Rangers SUCK!!

    BLACK_ADDER
  8. Reppin 4rm Big D to Jrzy
    14. Posted by Reppin 4rm Big D to Jrzy Thu Oct 29 11:47pm EDT

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    wow.....devils really got ready for the road this yr thanks to the fans that never showed up at home last yr....it was basically like playin 82 road gameslast yr sans when marty was hittin a big milestone....now they dont feel the the effects as much from opposing fans......gotta love it
  9. rhyss pieces
    13. Posted by rhyss pieces Thu Oct 29 10:28pm EDT

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    Capsfan, I agrre, so far not that good of a year for the Bruins. Nut you do kind of have to admit that Bergeron and Krcji and Savard are doing pretty good for the Bruins so far. I am 100% a Bruins fan. But, I am scared of Alex Ovechkin. Matt V, nice preiction. Just out of curiousity, you said the Bruins with 1. If you had to make a prediction, who would be the lone scorer for Boston. Plus, can you give us some lotto numbers?
  10. CapsFan1975
    12. Posted by CapsFan1975 Thu Oct 29 10:10pm EDT

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    So far, not a good year for the Bruins. But I don't exactly have confidence that Ottawa and Buffalo will stay ahead of the Bruins all year.
  11. BigBadBruins
    11. Posted by BigBadBruins Thu Oct 29 5:20pm EDT

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    Kick some a$$ bruins
  12. Edwin E
    10. Posted by Edwin E Thu Oct 29 5:11pm EDT

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    the bruins wil lose tonight ! ,you real bruins fans are so blind you cant see the future. until they replace the players that they traded away (real goals scorers) you will be in the dark. save your money and buy your kids something realy nice for christmas, ho ,ho ho.( bruins fan in waiting).
  13. BigBadBruins
    9. Posted by BigBadBruins Thu Oct 29 5:08pm EDT

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    Let;s go bruins win !!!!!
  14. William M
    8. Posted by William M Thu Oct 29 4:49pm EDT

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    bruins will win tonite 4-3


    GO BRUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  15. mike
    7. Posted by mike Thu Oct 29 4:31pm EDT

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    yahoo fix yo links i dgaf bout hockey
  16. BigBadBruins
    6. Posted by BigBadBruins Thu Oct 29 4:29pm EDT

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    Bruins win tonight 3-2
  17. NJ Devil
    5. Posted by NJ Devil Thu Oct 29 2:25pm EDT

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    Devils have a good chance tonight but must stay focused all the time. Go Devils Go!!
  18. Kevin
    4. Posted by Kevin Thu Oct 29 1:42pm EDT

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    devils are gonna win in overtime 3-4
  19. <i>spear_044</i>
    3. Posted by spear_044 Thu Oct 29 12:24pm EDT

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    devils are going to win tonight 3-0 bruins suck go devils
  20. Matt V
    2. Posted by Matt V Thu Oct 29 11:48am EDT

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    Devils are going to win tonight 2-1. GO DEVILS!!!!!!!!!
  21. Adam M
    1. Posted by Adam M Thu Oct 29 7:25am EDT

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    BRuins are going to win tonight 5-4. GO BRUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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