New Jersey (18-12-2, 38 PTS, 2nd Atlantic Division, 5th Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta (18-10-6, 42 PTS, 1st Southeast Division, 2nd Eastern Conference)
7:30 PM
The Swamp
FSNY
WFAN
Injuries:
New Jersey: RW Cam Janssen (Shoulder, Out for 12th Game), D Richard Matvichuk (Back, Out for 32nd Game)
Atlanta: D Garnet Exelby (Illness, Out for 6th Game), LW Brad Larssen (Upper Body, Questionable Tonight), C Steve Rucchin (Lower Body, Doubtful)
Last We Met:
March 23, 2006, at Phillips Arena: Devils give up a huge lead, Thrashers come back to take the lead, Gionta ties it late, Thrashers get GWG after a non-call on a blatant high-stick on Scott Gomez at the other end. ATL 6, NJ 5.
Next Meeting: 4 Days from now, same time, same place.
Leading Scorers
New Jersey
#26, Patrik Elias (LW): 12-17-29
#14, Brian Gionta (RW): 13-13-26
#15, Jamie Langenbrunner (RW): 13-12-25
#9, Zach Parise (LW): 11-12-23
#23, Scott Gomez (C): 4-18-22
Atlanta
#18, Marian Hossa (RW): 22-20-42
#13 Vyacheslav Kozlov (LW): 11-26-37
#17 Ilya Kovalchuk (LW): 18-18-36
#19 Scott Mellanby (RW): 7-12-19
#9 Glenn Metropolit (C): 6-10-16
Goaltending
New Jersey
#30 Martin Brodeur 18-11-1, 2.15, .921%
#40 Scott Clemmensen 0-1-1, 3.60, .878%
Atlanta
#30 Kari Lehtonen 13-7-6, 2.86, .907%
#1 Johan Hedberg 5-3-0, 3.01, .886%
Player to Watch Tonight
NJ
#26 Patrik Elias
The Devs in the midst of a stretch of tough opponents (as previously mentioned, the Devs have the Thrash again in 4 nights) and right now, they need a man to lead the charge, and boy has THE CAPTAIN been doing that lately. After a slow start in which many Devils fans questioned his captaincy (Even though the same fans begged for him to be given the 'c' all Summer) he has been on fire since the Philadelphia game two weeks ago. He has been the catalyst, and has picked up his understated physical game as well. Expect him to be key tonight (Along with the obvious Madden & Pando vs. Kovy and Hoss)
ATL
#30 Kari Lehtonen
The Devils have feasted on some on young goaltending in recent weeks (Fleury, Nittymaki, Toivonen, Huet) and Lehtonen may be next in line if he's not up to the task of playing in NJ. Now, after a 6-goal outburst versus NY, he will be facing a Swamp team ready to feast on yet another goalie. And with that Thrasher defense, he and Vitaly Vishnevski will be important in a Thrasher win.
Prediction: Thrashers 4, Devils 3
Covering the Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Sabres five years running along with the rest of the puckers!
BONY
Battle Of New York
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