NEW JERSEY DEVILS (39-34-2) at MONTREAL CANADIENS (44-21-10)

New Jersey begins its back-to-back, home-and-home series against the Canadiens at Prudential Center on Saturday night. Puck drop is 7:15 p.m. ET. 

Read below for your game preview presented by Window Works and check back for the pre-game story.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ - Check back following morning skate around 11:45 a.m.

THE SCOOP

The Devils are coming off their first seven-goal outing of the season, having posted a 7-3 victory against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. It was a career night for both Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, who registered five points each. At home this season New Jersey is 20-15-2. Since the Olympic break, New Jersey has found a bit of a groove, putting together an 11-7-0 record, good for a .611 win percentage. Their goal output has also taken a leap, averaging 3.61 goals per game and ranking sixth in the league since the break. Also since the break, New Jersey’s power play ranked fourth-best in the league at a 28.6 percent success rate. 

The Canadiens, meanwhile, are making a push for their division title and are one of the league’s hottest teams, on a seven-game win streak. The Canadiens are currently third in their division with 98 points, with the Tampa Bay Lighting and Buffalo Sabres sitting in the first and second spot, respectively, each with 100 points.

Forward Cole Caufield is on the verge of scoring 50 goals this season. The last player in the Canadiens' storied history to score 50 goals in a season was Stéphane Richer, who finished the 1989-90 season with 51 goals. Caufield also trails only Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the league’s top regular-season goal scorer.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Both Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are coming off career nights with five points each against the Capitals. Hughes leads players on both teams in points over the past five games, with 11. 

Canadiens: In Montreal, they call forward Cole Caufield 'Mr. Saturday Night', because Caufield has a knack for accumulating points on Saturday nights. In 21 Saturday night matchups this season, Caufield has 32 points in 21 games, including 20 goals. 

INJURIES

Devils:
Gritsyuk (undisclosed)
Pesce (lower-body)
Noesen (knee)
MacEwen (upper body)

Canadiens:

Texier (lower-body)
Laine (Abdomen)
Carrier (upper-body)
Dach (upper-body)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Nov. 6 vs. Montreal, W 4-3 OT
• April 4 vs. Montreal
• April 5 at Montreal

GAME NOTES

• Jack Hughes has recorded 21 career points (7g-14a) in 13 games against Montreal, which marks his most career points against a non-divisional opponent.

• Montreal has an impressive 22-8-8 road record this season.
• The Devils are averaging 4.2 goals per game over their last 10 games. 
• The Devils are 33-9-1 when scoring three or more goals this season.