Devils To Take On Blackhawks Tonight

Coming Into Tomorrow

• New Jersey is opening its 13th of 18 sets of back-to-back games tomorrow. The team is 5-4-3 in first games and 4-5-3 in second games when playing on consecutive dates.
• The Devils have recorded at least one point in ten of their last 14 games overall (8-4-2).
• New Jersey will visit Nashville on Saturday before returning to The Rock and opening a season-high six-game homestand on Tuesday vs. Buffalo.

Tomorrow’s Opponent

• Chicago has points in four straight games (2-0-2) following a 5-4 overtime loss to Vancouver on Wednesday.
• Marian Hossa has scored two goals in three consecutive games and is third on the club with 16g-24a-40pts on the year. Hossa has posted three straight multi-goal games for the first time in his career & is the first player to accomplish that feat for any team since Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds did so from December 21-28, 2013 (6g-1a-7pts). –credit NHL PR
• Patrick Kane is  the NHL’s leading scorer with 27g-35a-62pts this season. He recorded 1g-2a-3pts vs. the Canucks on Wednesday and has 2g-4a-6pts over the past four games. It was his ninth three-point game of the season. Kane has reached the 60-point milestone for the seventh time in eight NHL seasons. –credit NHL PR 
• The Blackhawks’ 2.27 team goals-against average is tied for second (Nashville) in the league behind Montreal (2.17).

Last Game: February 9 – Devils 1 vs. Edmonton 2

• New Jersey had its three-game home winning streak/eight-game home point streak (6-0-2) snapped.
• The Devils have lost two straight games in regulation for the first time since December 31-January 2.
• Edmonton outshot New Jersey, 24-14.
• Cory Schneider (22 saves) made his 46th start of the season and fell to 19-20-5. Despite the loss, Schneider is 7-2-1 in his last ten decisions & has a 1.73 goals-against average & .942 save-percentage in 11 appearances in 2015.
• Patrik Eliasscored his eighth goal of the season and second in the last three games.
• Martin Havlatpicked up the primary assist and is now just seven points shy of 600 in his NHL career (241g-352a-593pts).
• Travis Zajacalso assisted on Elias’s tally and has two helpers over the past three games.

Devils vs. Blackhawks

• Tomorrow night’s contest is the second/final meeting between the teams this season and the only contest to be played at United Center.
• Chicago leads the season series 1-0-0 following a 3-2 shootout win on December 9 at Prudential Center. The Blackhawks outshot the Devils, 39-24.
• Jordin Tootooand Stephen Gionta scored and Steve Bernier had 2a for the Devils in the first meeting.
• Brian Bickell and Duncan Keith scored for the Hawks’ goals & Jonathan Toews recorded the game-determining goal in the shootout.
• Keith Kinkaid(37 saves + 0/2 SO) took the loss in his first NHL start; Scott Darling (22 saves + 2/2 SO) earned the win for Chicago.
• Patrik Eliashas 7g-8a-15pts in 22 career games vs. the Blackhawks. He trails John MacLean (11g-8a-19pts) by 4pts for the most vs. Chicago in Devils’ history.
• Cory Schneideris 2-2-1 with a 3.43 goals-against average & .901 save-percentage in six games vs. the Blackhawks.
• The Devils are 2-2-1 in their last five trips to United Center, are 12-12-6 in the previous 30 games played in Chicago & lead the all-time series 27-20-14.

 

Chicago Connections

• Martin Havlat played three seasons with the Blackhawks from 2006-2009.
• Tuomo Ruutuwas Chicago’s first choice, ninth overall, in the 2001 Entry Draft. He played four-plus seasons with the Hawks from 2003-2008 before being traded to Carolina on February 26, 2008.
• Chicago’s Head Coach Joel Quenneville and Assistant Coach Mike Kitchen were members of the first New Jersey Devils team in 1982-83.
• John Quenneville, New Jersey’s first pick, 30th overall, in the 2014 Entry Draft is Joel’s second cousin.
• Travis Zajacand Jonathan Toews are both from Winnipeg & were teammates on the University of North Dakota club that advanced to the Frozen Four in 2005-06.
• Cory Schneider and Ben Smith were members of the Boston College team that went to the NCAA Championship game in 2006-07.
• Johnny Oduya played the first three-plus seasons (2006-09) of his NHL career with the Devils.
• Trevor van Riemsdyk, who’s currently on Chicago’s Long-Term Injured list, is a native of Middletown, NJ.
• Former Devils Alex Brooks, Don Lever and Mike Mottau currently serve as Scouts for the Blackhawks’ organization.

Injuries

• Stephen Gionta (I.R., broken hand, 17 games missed) has resumed skating but is out.
• Damon Severson (I.R., left ankle, 22 games missed) has resumed skating but is out.
• Bryce Salvador(I.R., lower body, 39 games missed) is out.
• Ryane Clowe(I.R., hit to head, 41 games missed) is out.
• Total man-games lost to injury/illness: 238

Recent Transactions

• January 28 – Tuomo Ruutu was activated from Injured Reserve.
• January 27 – Tim Sestito cleared waivers/was assigned to Albany (AHL).
• January 20 – Joe Whitney was assigned to Alb.
• January 14 – Eric Gelinas was activated from Injured Reserve; Tuomo Ruutu was placed on I.R.

Milestone Watch

 

• Steve Bernier needs three goals to reach 100 in his NHL career.
• Bernier needs four games played to reach 200 with New Jersey.
• Patrik Elias is expected to appear in his 1,200^th NHL game.
• Mark Fraser is expected to appear in his 200^th NHL game.
• Eric Gelinas needs five games played for 100 in his NHL career.
• Martin Havlat needs seven points to reach 600 in his NHL career.
• Tuomo Ruutu needs five assists to reach 200 in his NHL career.
• Travis Zajac needs three games to reach 600 in his NHL career.

 

Notes

• ELIAS TO APPEAR IN 1,200TH GAME:Patrik Elias is expected to appear in his 1,200th career game tomorrow night, becoming the 103rd player in NHL history to do so. Dainius Zubrus was the last NHL player to reach the milestone on December 31 at Detroit. Elias made his NHL debut on December 7, 1995 vs. Toronto and has spent his entire career with New Jersey; he ranks 17th all-time in games played for one NHL franchise.
• JAGR CLIMBING UP THE CHARTS: Jaromir Jagr has career totals of 716g-1,068a-1,784pts in 1,523 NHL games. He’s expected to tie Brendan Shanahan (1,524 games played) for 13th-place all-time tomorrow night. Jagr appeared in his 1,515th game on January 8 at Boston to pass Steve Yzerman for 14th place. Jagr recorded his 11th goal of the season on February 6 vs. Toronto and now trails Phil Esposito (717g) by one goal for fifth-place in NHL history. Jagr scored his 709th goal on November 28 vs. Detroit to move past Mike Gartner for sixth place all-time. On December 15 at the NY Islanders, he posted the 1,064/65th assists of his career to pass Yzerman (1,063a) for seventh-place in NHL history. He now has 1,068a and trails Adam Oates (1,079a) by 12 for sixth all-time. He recorded 1g-1a-2pts on December 8 at Carolina to tie/surpass Marcel Dionne (731g-1,040a-1,771pts) for fifth-place on the NHL’s point-scoring list. Ron Francis (549g-1,249a-1,798pts) is fourth. With 202 power play goals, Jagr has tied Yzerman for 15th-place; Wayne Gretzky is next on the list with 204 PPG. He extended his NHL records with his 127th GWG Jan. 3 & the 19 OT goal of his career on October 25 at Ottawa. Jagr recorded three shots on goal on December 2 at Pittsburgh to pass passed Al MacInnis (5,157) for third-place in NHL history.
• ELIAS REACHES THREE NHL MILESTONES:Patrik Elias scored the 400th goal of his career on February 6 vs. Toronto, becoming the 91st player in NHL history to reach the milestone. He posted 1g-2a-3pts Jan. 6 vs. Buffalo, including his 600th assist/1,000th point. Elias was the 80th player to record 600a and the 82nd to compile 1,000pts. Of the 81 previous players to reach 1000pts, only one matched Elias in also hitting a century milestone in either goals or assists in the same game in which he scored his 1,000th point. That was Boston’s Jean Ratelle, whose 1,000th career point was also his 600th assist (April 3, 1977 vs. Toronto). Ratelle had scored his 400th goal the day before. credit Elias Sports Bureau
• WINNING TOUCH:Mike Cammalleri leads the NHL (tie, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alex Ovechkin & Matt Beleskey) with seven game-winning goals and has 12 in his last 57 appearances dating back to March 12, 2014. He scored the game-winning goal in four consecutive non-shootout victories from January 14-February 3, matching the longest single-season streak of its kind in franchise history. The only other player to do so was Colorado’s Denis Dupere in 1977-78. Montreal’s Lars Eller (October 25 – November 13) is the only other NHL player to do so this season. credit Elias Sports Bureau
• IRON MAN: Andy Greene has played in 201 straight games dating back to March 6, 2012 and is just the sixth player (Aaron Broten did so twice) in team history to appear in 200-or-more consecutive games. The stretch is the second-longest ever by a Devils’ defenseman; he passed Scott Stevens(196 games, November 23, 1993-October 5, 1996) on January 31 vs. Florida. Ken Daneyko (388 games, November 4, 1989-March 29, 1994) holds the record for d’men, while Travis Zajac (401 games, October 26, 2006-April 10, 2011) is first overall.
• GOMEZ CLOSING IN ON HOLIK: Scott Gomez, who signed a new contract with New Jersey on December 1, made his season debut on December 2 at Pittsburgh and became the 25th player in Devils’ history to be re-acquired and see action with the team. Gomez ranks sixth in Devils’ history with 120g-348a-468pts; Bobby Holik (202g-270a-472pts) is fifth. He posted the 338th assist of his Devils’ career on December 15 at the New York Islanders to pass Scott Stevens(337a) for sole-possession fourth-place in team history; John MacLean (354a) is third. He previously recorded 2a on December 8 at Carolina to tie/surpass Kirk Muller (335a) on New Jersey’s all-time list.
• AN ALL-STAR AGAIN:Patrik Elias recorded 2a and was +5 for Team Toews in its 17-12 win over Team Foligno at the NHL All-Star Game in Columbus on Sunday. Elias now has 1g-6a-7pts in four career All-Star Games (2000, 2002 & 2011).
• HATS OFF TO JAROMIR: On January 3 vs. Philadelphia, Jaromir Jagr scored the 15th hat trick of his NHL career. At 42 years, 322 days, Jagr became the oldest player in NHL history to post a hat trick. Gordie Howe previously held the record, notching his final three-goal game at 41 years, 216 days on November 2, 1969. Jagr’s hat trick came 23 years, 11 months and one day after his first on February 2, 1991, which is the longest gap between a player’s first and final hat tricks. Howe previously held the record; his last three-goal game came 19 years, 264 days after his first one (on February 11, 1950). credit Elias Sports Bureau
• CORY’S NUMBER ONE:Cory Schneider ranks first with a 2.11 goals-against average (2nd, Henrik Lundqvist & Tuukka Rask, 2.18) and a .927 save-percentage (2nd, Rask) among goaltenders that have played in at least 100 games since the start of 2010-11. Schneider finished his first season in New Jersey with a 1.97 GAA, which ranked third in the NHL and first among goaltenders who appeared in at least 35 games. Schneider posted the third-best single-season GAA in franchise history behind Martin Brodeur’s 1996-97 (1.88 GAA) and 1997-98 (1.89 GAA) campaigns.
• DEVILS RESTRUCTURE COACHING STAFF:On December 27, New Jersey restructured its coaching staff by adding Scott Stevens and Adam Oates. They join Tommy Albelin, Mike Foligno and Chris Terreri on the team’s staff. Peter DeBoer and Dave Barr were relieved of their coaching duties.
• QUICK STRIKE: Steve Bernier,Martin Havlat and Mike Cammalleri all scored in a span of 68 seconds in the second period of New Jersey’s 5-3 win at Los Angeles on January 14. It was the third-fastest three goals in Devils history: November 23, 1991, Kevin Todd, Peter Stastny and Douglas Brown, 0:42 of 2nd period,  5-5 tie at Philadelphia; and February 16, 1985, Tim Higgins, Uli Hiemer and Phil Russel, 0:42 of 2nd period, 6-3 win at Toronto. credit Elias Sports Bureau
• THAT’S A FIRST:Keith Kinkaid (26 saves + 3/3 SO) earned the first win of his NHL career on December 19 vs. Tampa Bay. He became the first goaltender to win his first NHL game as a Devil since Scott Clemmensen (January 20, 2004 at Pittsburgh). Kinkaid also became the first goaltender in NHL history to have each of his first three starts go to the shootout.
• ZUBRUS PLAYS IN 1,200TH GAME:Dainius Zubrus appeared in his 1,200th game on December 31, becoming just the 102nd player in NHL history to do so. He made his NHL debut as the youngest player in Flyers’ franchise history (18 years, 3 months & 19 days) on October 5, 1996 vs. Florida and scored a goal that night vs. former Devil John Vanbiesbrouck. Zubrus has played 513 games with the Devils entering tonight, the most among the five NHL teams he’s skated for, followed by Washington (331), Philadelphia (200), Montreal (139) and Buffalo (19).
• 500 CLUB: Andy Greene skated in his 500th game with New Jersey on November 28 vs. Detroit, becoming the eighth defenseman/25th player in team history to reach the milestone. Dainius Zubrus appeared in his 500th game with the Devils on November 21 at Edmonton, becoming the 24th player in franchise history to do so.
• SCHNEIDER ESTABLISHES NEW FRANCHISE RECORD: Cory Schneider started 20 consecutive games from October 9-November 21 at Edmonton, the longest streak to begin a season in Devils’ history (Martin Brodeur, 19, October 6-November 2, 2001). (credit Elias Sports Bureau)
• CZECH IT OUT: Jaromir Jagr(716g-1,068a-1,784pts), Patrik Elias (401g-605a-1,006pts) are the two highest-scoring players from the Czech Republic in NHL history, while Martin Havlat (241g-352a-593pts) ranks third among active players and 14th all-time. Marek Zidlicky is fourth among all Czech defensemen with 82g-307a-389pts and 27th overall.