:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45784384/usa-today-8320034.0.jpg)
New Jersey seems like the classic "trap game," where the better team could possibly come in and get stuck in a low-scoring affair. Corey Schneider is once again proving why he could've been a regular NHL goaltender way earlier--I have no idea why he needs to keep proving, but last year the Devils essentially killed their postseason hopes via playing Brodeur--and the Devils are middle of the pack in GA in the Eastern Conference. Schneider's .926 this season is a big part of that.
The problem for NJ, and part of the reason the Bruins have had little trouble with them thus far this season, is that they simply can't score. For all the disappointment and underachievement surrounding the Bruins offense this season, Boston has scored 21 goals more than NJ. The Devils are tied with Arizona for 3rd-to-last in the NHL in goals, ahead of only Carolina and Buffalo. And, as you may have heard, they just moved Jaromir Jagr to the division-rival Florida Panthers.
The Hated Devils, 14th in East, 59 Points
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lamoriello: "By no means are we feeling that we are out of a race."</p>— New Jersey Devils (@NHLDevils) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLDevils/status/571069606397415424">February 26, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Alrighty, then!
Forward Lines:
Adam Henrique - Patrick Elias - Steve Bernier
Tuomo Ruutu - Scott Gomez - Not Jaromir Jagr
Mike Cammalleri - Travis Zajac - Jordin Tootoo
Dainius Zubrus - Jacob Josefson - Stephen Gionta
Bizarrely enough, this group had been relatively hot into they ran into...the Flames. Go figure. Suffice to say, this isn't really a high-flying team, though one should never underestimate a line centered by Elias.
D-Pairings:
Andy Greene - Adam Larsson
Jon Merrill - Marek Zidlicky
Eric Gelinas - Peter Harrold
New Jersey's defense is a mix of quality pieces and people who you probably have never heard of.
And In Net:
Corey Schneider (starter)
Keith Kinkaid (participated in practice, not confirmed if he'll be active)
Scott Clemmensen
Corey Schneider is from the town I currently live in. When he played here, there's a rumor he was a really good goalie. He is still a really good goalie.
Your Boston Bruins, 8th In East, 67 Points
The Bruins come into this game with a 2-point lead on Florida, and are 4-points up on 10th-place Philly. Their back-to-back comes against New Jersey and then Arizona. Do stuff, Bruins.
Forward Lines:
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Reilly Smith
Milan Lucic - Ryan Spooner- David Pastrnak
Daniel Paille - Carl Soderberg - Loui Eriksson
Jordan Caron - Chris Kelly - Brian Ferlin
The Bruins have actually looked quite good overall in the last couple games. The Bergeron line is always good. The speed on the "2nd line" is fun. Playing with Soderberg and Eriksson finally got poor Dan Paille out of the woods. Even that fourth line looked capable enough of taking some D-Zone draws.
D-Pairings:
Zdeno Chara - Dougie Hamilton
Matt Bartkowski - Dennis Seidenberg
Torey Krug - Adam McQuaid
I keep hearing rumblings about a McQuaid injury, but there's no one up from Providence as of yet so it's likely he's just banged up like he usually is. Again, these units played well versus Vancouver; the two GA were on a shot deflected in off Seidenberg, and Kassian's missile that, well, actually occurred without anyone being out of position.
And In Net:
Tuukka Rask
Niklas Svedberg
No starter confirmed as of yet. It would really make a lot of a sense if we saw Svedberg in one of these two games, given that it's a back-to-back against two teams that struggle to generate offense.
~
I'll be on the road tonight for a friend's birthday party, so this'll be one of the few that I'll miss. Go Bruins!