DEVILS (15-7-4) at BLUE JACKETS (17-9-1) 7 p.m. ET; FS-O, MSG+, NHL.TV
Columbus has 35 points, one more than the Devils and New York Islanders, each of whom has played one fewer game than the Blue Jackets. The Devils are 9-3-2 on the road. Columbus has won five straight at home, outscoring opponents 15-6.
Players to watch
Devils goaltender Cory Schneider is one win away from 100 with New Jersey. In five seasons with the Devils he's 99-103-41 in 247 games. Blue Jackets rookie center Pierre-Luc Dubois has six points (goal, five assists) during a four-game point streak. He and linemates Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson have combined for 18 points in the past six games. Anderson has seven points (three goals, four assists) and Panarin has five points (two goals, three assists).
They said it
"It's something we need at this point now where you're back into your division against a rival team. We know the games are certainly going to be competitive. That's something we need right now. We need to get our competitive juices flowing." -- Devils coach John Hynes, on playing the first of three straight games against Metropolitan Division foes "It's been going really well right now. I'm talking to [Panarin and Anderson] to see what I can do better to help them out more." -- Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois
Santini returns after being scratched the past two games. He'll replace Lovejoy. … The Blue Jackets did not hold a morning skate.
Stat pack
New Jersey is 17-for-19 (89.5 percent) on the penalty kill the past six games. … The Blue Jackets lead the NHL in home penalty kill at 94.6 percent (35-for-37).
