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DEVILS (32-13-4) vs. KRAKEN (29-16-5)
Head-to-Head
The Devils and Kraken meet for the second time this season, and the first and only time in Newark.
In the previous matchup, Seattle won the contest, 4-3, in overtime on Andre Burakovsky's winner. The Devils stole a point and forced the extra hockey when captain Nico Hischier tied the game with 1:14 remaining in the third period.
Seattle's Ryan Donato scored two goals and posted three assists. Brandon Tanev also scored. The Devils received goals by Damon Severson and Erik Haula.
Devils Team Scope
The Devils picked up right where they left off following the All-Star break, playing overtime and winning. New Jersey exited the break with a 5-4 overtime victory against Vancouver to improve to 9-1-1 in their past 11 games. The Devils rank second in the Metro Division, six points behind Carolina with one game in hand.
The Devils are led by All-Star Jack Hughes, who ranks third in the NHL with 35 goals to go with his team-best 67 points. Hughes scored two goals against Vancouver. He now has 17 goals in the past 15 games, and 28 in his last 30. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has a five-game scoring streak for 11 points (3g-8a), including seven assists in the past three contests. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek is on a career-long 10-game winning streak.
Kraken Team Scope
Seattle is enjoying an incredible sophomore season. The club is in second place in the Pacific Division with 63 points, just one behind Vegas. And the Kraken have two games in hand on the Golden Knights. The Kraken exited the All-Star break with a 4-0 loss to the NY Islanders Tuesday night. But the club finished 11-3-1 in the month of January.
The Kraken's offense has carried the team, ranking fifth in the league with 3.54 goals per game. The strength of which has been the club's balanced scoring. Fourteen different players on the club have 20 or more points. But Burakovsky leads the team with only 39 points (13g-26a). Jared McCann paces the team with 23 goals while Matty Beniers leads all rookies with 17 goals and 36 points.
By the Numbers
Hughes enters tonight riding a career-best nine-game scoring streak, totaling nine goals and 17 points.
Seattle has the fifth-best road record in the NHL with a 16-6-2 mark, including a seven-game road winning streak.
Injury Updates
Devils
Jonathan Bernier (hip, LTIR)
Kraken
Dreidger (ACL, IR)
Donskoi (upper-body, IR)
Schultz (undisclosed)
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