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DEVILS (4-3-0) vs. AVALANCHE (4-2-1)
Head-to-Head
The Devils will face the Avalanche two times this season with the rematch coming on March 1 in Denver. Last season, the teams split their two games with the Devils winning 5-3 at Prudential Center on March 8 and the Avs winning 3-1 at Ball Arena on April 14.
Devils team scope:
The Devils started the season with two losses but since that time have been the best team in the NHL. Since October 16, no team has more points than the eight the Devils have registered. They're first in shots per game at 40.4 and first in fewest shots allowed at 20.6 (five less than second-place Seattle). Most recently, the Devils had a big 6-2 win on Tuesday in Detroit and have won four of their last five games overall.
On the season, Jesper Bratt leads the Devils (and tied for the NHL lead) with 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists). Nico Hischier is second with seven points. Hischier's seven points have all come in the team's last five contests.
Avalanche team scope:
The defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche opened the season to some mixed results with only two wins in its first five games but have rattled off victories in each of its last two on the road against formidable opponents, beating Vegas 3-2 this past Saturday and the Rangers 3-2 in a shootout several days ago.
Valeri Nichushkin leads the Avs with seven goals and 12 points, both of those are tied for the NHL lead. Nathan MacKinnon is second on the club with 10 points and Mikko Rantanen is third with nine.
By the Numbers:
Two players tied for the NHL lead in scoring will be playing in this game. Bratt and Nichushkin each have 12 points on the year. Bratt leads the League in assists with nine, tied with Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl while Nichushkin leads in goals with seven, tied with Andrei Svechnikov and Steven Stamkos. … Last season, Bratt was the Devils' leading scorer in games against Colorado with a goal and three assists for four points in two contests. Yegor Shrangovich, Pavel Zacha and Jack Hughes each had two points. For Colorado, Cale Makar, Rantanen and MackInnon each had a goal and two assists for three points to lead the way for the Avalanche against New Jersey.
Injury Updates:
Devils
Bernier (Hip - IR)
Palat (Lower Body - Day-to-Day)
Avalanche
Landeskog (Knee - IR)
Helm (Undisclosed - IR)