The Devils have won a season-high, five-consecutive games on home-ice, Dec. 12-23, out-scoring their opponents, 23-10. They are 5-0-1 in past six games overall, Dec. 14-23. They are 4-0-0 on their season-high, six-game, home-stand, Dec. 15-29, and have out-scored their opponents by a total of 17-9.
On Saturday, New Jersey had goals from four different players; Brian Boyle, Kyle Palmieri, Pavel Zacha, and Taylor Hall in front of a third-consecutive sellout crowd at Prudential Center. Will Butcher (2A) and Hall (1G-1A) each scored two points to lead the club to victory.
Boyle opened the scoring, with his 10th goal (16th point) of the season, to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead in the first. Boyle left the game after only skating in 6:41 of action and did not return (precautionary). Boyle tied his previous career-high, registering a point in the past four-consecutive games. He has eight points (4G-4A) in four straight matches since Dec. 15 (also; Jan. 22-Feb. 1, 2011, 2G-2A-4PTS).
Kyle Palmieri notched his second game-winner of the season with a power play goal at 9:20 of the first period. Pavel Zacha scored his first goal since Oct. 11 at TOR, (24 games), it was his second of 2017-18. Taylor Hall notched New Jersey's final marker in the third and leads New Jersey with 34PTS (12G-22A).
Cory Schneider, the First Star of the Game, stopped 39 of 40 shots in his season-high, sixth-consecutive start. He is 5-0-1 with a .931 SV% in that span from Dec. 12-23.
Jesper Bratt was unsuccessful on the first penalty shot attempt of his career (vs. A. Forsberg). New Jersey is 1/3 (33.3%) in their three total PS attempts this season. Keith Kinkaid stopped CGY's Michael Ferland in the only opponent PS the club has faced in 2017-18.
TONIGHT'S GAME vs. DETROIT
Tonight is the second of three meetings between New Jersey and Detroit in the 2017-18 season. They will meet for their season-series finale on Jan. 22 at Prudential Center.
The Devils defeated the Red Wings in overtime, 4-3 OT, on Nov. 25 in their only match-up this season at Little Caesars Arena. Brian Gibbons scored the sudden-death goal in the three-on-three period, while Taylor Hall led the club with two points (1G-1A). Brian Boyle and Nico Hischier also scored in the contest.
The Devils are 4-2-1 overall (1-1-1 home) vs. Detroit since the 2015-16 season. Trenton, MI native, Andy Greene has 4PTS (1G-3A) in 16 games vs. his hometown club. Drew Stafford leads all Devils with 13PTS (4G-9A) in 19 games against the Red Wings.
New Jersey is 7-1-3 (3-1-1 home) against Atlantic Division opponents and is 10-4-3 (4-3-1 home) vs. the Eastern Conference in 2017-18. The club is currently riding a season-high, four-game, winning-streak (Dec. 15-23) and a season-high, five-game, winning-streak at Prudential Center (Dec. 12-23).
New Jersey is 11-5-2 (24PTS) at Prudential Center. Their current five-game, unbeaten-streak on home-ice, comes after the club went 2-3-2 in their seven prior matches at The Rock from Nov. 7-Dec. 8.
Tonight is the fifth of New Jersey's season-high, six-game, home-stand, spanning 14 days from Dec. 15-29: NJD is 4-0-0 and has out-scored the opposition, \17-9.
\excludes GDG
