Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-New Jersey Devils game at the Bell Centre Saturday (7 p.m., CITY, SNE, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).
The matchup: This is the first of three games between these teams this season and each team is playing the second half of a back-to-back set. The Canadiens were in Washington Friday night, while the Devils were at home to the Penguins. There were high hopes for the Devils this season, but they have been a disappointment and had the worst record in the NHL going into Friday’s action. They ranked 28th in goals-for per game (2.53) and 30th in goals-against (3.65) and their penalty-kill is only slightly better than Montreal’s, which means it isn’t good.
Will we see Price? Carey Price started against Washington, but coach Claude Julien hasn’t ruled out coming back with him against the Devils. If he does, that means Price will have played 17 of the Canadiens’ first 20 games. The alternative is backup Keith Kinkaid, who might have an insight into the opposition because he spent the first five seasons of his career with the Devils. Mackenzie Blackwood started for the Devils Friday and Jersey coach John Hynes said he might stick with Blackwood Saturday.
The trade revisited: The Shea Weber-P.K. Subban trade continues to tilt toward Montreal. Weber has been playing some of his best hockey this season as he continues his successful comeback from knee and foot surgery. He has five goals and nine assists and has helped turn around the Montreal power play while averaging 24:35 of ice time. Subban was traded a second time during the off-season and has struggled along with the rest of the Devils. He has two goals and three assists and is minus-5.
Thompson an unsung hero: Fourth-line centre Nate Thompson played a key role in the Canadiens’ 3-2 shootout win over Columbus on Tuesday as he led a penalty-killing unit that stopped the Jackets on a 4-on-3 advantage in overtime. Thompson has done a little bit of everything to earn his keep. He has the best faceoff percentage on the team (54.35), has registered 26 hits and leads all Canadiens forwards with 22 blocked shots.
The other guys: Taylor Hall, who won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player two years ago, is the Devils’ leading scorer with two goals and 13 assists, but he’s not particularly happy. He can be an unrestricted free agent next July and there is no shortage of rumours about where he will finish the season. Kyle Palmieri is the Devils’ leading goal-scorer (six), while Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft, has four goals and five assists. Nico Hischier, the top pick in 2017, has two goals and six assists.
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