Game Day Preview: Jets @ Devils

When: Sunday, February 24, 2013

Time: 4:00 p.m. CST

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

Records: Winnipeg Jets (7-9-1 – 11th in East), New Jersey Devils (10-4-4 – 4th in East)

Television/Radio:  MSG-PLUS, TSN-JETS/ TSN 1290

The Story: The Winnipeg Jets will look to rebound from yesterday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers when they meet the New Jersey Devils this afternoon at the Prudential Center.

The Jets held a 3-2 lead in the 3rd period on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia but they surrendered three third period goals and dropped their first game on their current 5-game road trip (2-1-0 record).  The Jets got goals from Evander Kane, Olli Jokinen and Alexander Burmistrov  but once again special teams were the achilles heel. The Jets surrendered three Power Play goals (on 6 opportunities) to Philadelphia and failed to score on their own four Power Play chances.

The Devils were defeated by the Washington Capitals 5-1 Saturday afternoon so they might not be in the best mood today either. Alexander Ovechkin recorded his first hat trick of the season for Washington and former Winnipeg Jets forward Eric Fehr scored his 4th goal of the season as New Jersey had one of their worst defensive showings of the season Saturday.

The Devils have only scored six goals in their last four games but they are as dangerous as any team in the NHL and are blessed with a plethora of offensive weapons. 10-goal man David Clarkson has been excellent so far this year after last year’s career year (30 goals) and former Atlanta Thrasher and 2001 1st overall pick Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal on Saturday and now has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in his last five games. 36-year-old Patrik Elias has also been hot for the Devils as of late (2 goals, 4 assists in his last five games). Elias leads the Devils on the season with 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists).

Today’s game is the first of three meetings between the Jets and Devils this year. The Jets and Devils meet again next week, Thursday, February 28th (7:00 p.m. CST). The third and final meeting of the season between the two teams will be in New Jersey on Sunday, March 10th at 6:00 p.m.

Ondrej Pavelec is expected to start in goal for the Jets today

Martin Brodeur is expected to start in goal for the Devils today.

Follow @IllegalCurve on Twitter leading up to today’s game.

Projected Jets line combinations (subject to change before game time):

Goalie:

Ondrej Pavelec

Forwards:

1st: Andrew Ladd- Bryan Little- Blake Wheeler

2nd:  Evander Kane-Alexander Burmistrov- Nikolai Antropov

3rd:  James Wright– Olli Jokinen- Antti Miettinen*

4th:  Eric Tangradi- Jim Slater – Anthony Peluso*

*removed from IR on Jets site and is expected to take Wellwood’s spot.

* in for Chris Thorburn

Defence:

Ron Hainsey- Zach Bogosian

Dustin Byfuglien- Grant Clitsome

Paul Postma- Mark Stuart

Offensive Leaders:

New Jersey Devils: Patrik Elias (5 goals, 16 assists, 21 points), Ilya Kovalchuk (7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points), David Clarkson (10 goals, 6 assists, 16 points)

Winnipeg Jets: Andrew Ladd (9 goals, 7 assists, 16 points), Evander Kane (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points) Blake Wheeler (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points)

Injury Report:

New Jersey Devils: Ryan Carter (head), Mattias Tedenby (face), Dainius Zubrus (wrist)

Winnipeg Jets: Al Montoya (lower body), Tobias Enstrom (shoulder), Zach Redmond (leg)

Who’s Next:  Tuesday, February 26th against the New York Rangers (6:00 p.m. CST).

QUICKIES…..Devils forward Alexei Ponikarovsky has a goal and an assist in five games since being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets for a 2013 7th Round Draft Pick and a 2014 4th Round Draft Pick. Ponikarovsky had two goals and no assists in 12 games with the Jets…..