The NJ Devils are off to their best start ever when talking about playing games away from the Prudential Center. They are currently 7-0 and only the Buffalo Sabres of 2006-2007 did better then they won 10 games on the road to start a season.
Now, how do they do what they are doing away from NJ while they are in NJ? It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. One could say that they are playing better teams at home than on the road but that’s not very accurate. Yes, they’ve beaten Tampa Bay twice and a depleted Boston Bruins sqaud but they also knocked of Washington, NY Rangers and Pittsburgh in these 7 games. If the Devils are going to be succesful, they will need to start looking better at home. It’s cliche to say but its alway very accurate.
The task of winning at home doesn’t get off to an easy start on Wednesday as they host one of the conferences best teams, the Washington Capitals, who oh by the way have the leagues scoring leader (if his injury from yesterday isn’t too severe) and then host the Islanders who, every time I watch, seem to look better and better.
The good news we got this morning was that Patrik Elias was one the ice practicing with his teammates for the first time this season. We knew this was coming because Matt Halischuk was a healthy scratch on Saturday afternoon against the Lightning and then was sent to Lowell (AHL) on Sunday. I don’t think Elias would be available to play against the Capitals on Wednesday but I have to believe he’s close to returning and maybe he’d do so this weekend. Elias skated with center Travis Zajac and right winger David Clarkson for this practice session, which is a line I would like to see him on.
There’s no word on Johnny Oduya other than that “he’s close” and a “maybe” for Wednesday nights game. Jamie Langenbrunner also missed practice but its believed he’s not injured but just needed a rest.
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