Devils, Canes Battle Atop the Metro Division | PREVIEW

The Devils open the 2022 calendar year with a matinee showdown the Metro Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes. The puck drops at 3 p.m.
You can watch on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Read the pre-game story, watch interviews following morning skate, and more below.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
WATCH LIVE
PlayUp Devils Live Pre-Game Show with host Catherine Bogart begins at 2:15 p.m. ET.
After the game, tune into our Genucel Live Post-Game Show with Catherine and Devils Hockey Network's Jason Shaya and Chico Resch.
GAME DAY VIDEO
WATCH: Head Coach Lindy Ruff
BY THE NUMBERS
Stats Comparison: Devils vs. Canes
Media Game Notes: Devils vs. Canes
Head to Head: Devils vs. Canes
Devils Player Statistics
Canes Player Statistics
NHL Standings
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TV & RADIO
You can watch the game on MSGSN.
You can listen to the game on the Devils Hockey Network.
NEWARK, N.J.- The Hurricanes and Devils are the top two teams in the Metro Division. In the previous meeting, Dec. 20 in Carolina, the Devils were in the No. 1 position with the Canes nipping at their heels. However, two weeks later it is the Hurricanes now in the top spot with the Devils chasing.
"It's a big game," head coach Lindy Ruff. "They've been one of the best teams the last three years. We're hunting them now. We went from the team being hunted to now we're hunting down that team. Big challenge for us."
The Devils know what lay ahead. Carolina won the previous matchup, 4-1.
"If you make a mistake with pressure a lot of times, you'll see an odd-numbered rush," Ruff said. "Having their D involved, the wall battles will be really important to us."
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Devils center Jack Hughes is typically thought of as an elite playmaker. But it's officially time to add elite goal-scorer to his resume. Hughes, who scored twice against Pittsburgh and has 20 goals this year to lead New Jersey, has tallied 45 goals in his past 85 contests.
"He generates opportunities on his own. If you're going to score goals you have to generate opportunities," Ruff said. "His opportunities have really gone up. Some of those are coming from his own speed, his own ingenuity."
Teach Me How to Dougie
Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has 22 assists and 30 points in 36 games. Last season, in 62 contests, Hamilton had 21 assists and 30 points.
"His game was hurt by the injury last year so it's hard to evaluate last year to this year," Ruff said noting Hamilton's broken jaw. "The strength of Doug's game is to get involved. The gift he has of getting in the right place, getting the opportunity and getting the puck to the net, they're going in.
"I think the players on the ice, if they know Doug is on the ice with him they know the ability of Doug to join and be a threat offensively."
Sevy Time
Blueliner Damon Severson was a healthy scratch Dec. 17. In the five games since returning, Severson has logged the most minutes in each contest for New Jersey (23:51, 28:24, 26:02, 25:18, 30:41). Part of that has been the situational hockey, and another has been in-game injuries.
"His penalty killing is something that he's done a good job with," Ruff noted. "It was really important the other night."
The Devils killed eight penalties and were shorthanded against Pittsburgh for 16:27 minutes.
DEVILS (23-11-2) vs. HURRICANES (24-6-6)
TV: 3 p.m. ET; Televised on MSGSN
Head-to-Head
The Devils and Hurricanes meet for the second time this season, and first in New Jersey. In the previous spar, Carolina triumphed, 4-1, on Dec. 20.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi opened the scoring just 20 seconds into the contest. The Canes also had goals from Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen and Stefan Noesen. Jack Hughes tallied the lone Devils goal.
The Hurricanes and Devils rank Nos. 1 and 2 respectively in the Metro Division with 54 and 48 points.
Devils Team Scope:
The Devils broke their 1-6-1 slump with a 4-2 victory in Pittsburgh to close out the 2022 calendar year Friday night. New Jersey received goals from Hughes (2), captain Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 25 saves in the win.
Hughes picked up his 19th and 20th goals of the season against the Penguins, the team leader. He also paces the club with 41 points in 36 games. Hischier's goal was his 15th of the season, and he now has a career-high four game-winning goals this year. It was also his third-career shorthanded tally. Jesper Bratt, who is second on the team with 34 points, had an assist. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton had a two-point night Friday, his first (goal) also being his 400th-career point.
Vanecek allowed two goals to Pittsburgh. It was the 16th time in 24 games played where the Czech netminder allowed two or less goals in a game.
Hurricanes Team Scope:
The Carolina Hurricanes are the hottest team in the NHL at the moment. They won a franchise-record 10th straight game with a 4-0 victory against Florida on Friday night. They're 14-0-2 in the past 16 games, a franchise record point streak.
Carolina was 12-0-1 in the month of December for 25 points (a December franchise record and the second-most points in a single month: 26, January 2006, 13-1-0).
Martin Necas paces the Canes with 35 points. He has a four-game scoring streak (2g-3a). Andrei Svechnikov has a team-best 19 goals to go with 32 points. Defenseman Brent Burns leads the blue line with 22 assists and 26 points.
The Hurricanes' strength has been in goal. Antti Raanta has won six straight games and recorded back-to-back shutouts against Chicago and Florida (24 and 19 saves). Rookie Pyotr Kochetkov is 8-0-2 in his past 10 games and hasn't lost in regulation since Nov. 23.
By the Numbers:
Hamilton picked up his 22nd assist and 30th point of the year against the Penguins. In 62 total games last season for the Devils, Hamilton recorded 21 assists and 30 points.
Raanta has an active shutout sequence of 127:36 minutes.
Injury Updates:
Devils
John Marino (Upper-Body, week-to-week)
Ryan Graves (Lower-Body, day-to-day)
Jonathan Bernier (Hip - IR)
Ondrej Palat (Groin - IR)
Nathan Bastian (Upper-Body - IR)
Hurricanes
Anderson (Lower-Body)
Gardiner (Upper-Body)
Kase (concussion)
Pacioretty (torn Achilles)