New Jersey Devils (11-9-5) vs.

Your Winnipeg Jets (12-11-1)

Last Meeting February 28th, Jets 3, Devils 1

Game at 6pm on TSN-Jets and TSN 1290-Winnipeg

The Jets might be the most fortunate team in the NHL in March. No one can help what division they play in, but this is the Jets first game against a team with a winning record so far this month and it comes when New Jersey has gone 2-6-2 in their last ten games, collecting just three points in the 8 games since Brodeur was injured. Hedberg will be in net for his 9th straight start today and his 3rd of the season against the Jets. The Jets have a chance to make it three in a row against Moose, and three in a row on the calendar as well.

Piling on for the Devils is that they enter this matchup after playing last night in Carolina (a 6-3 loss) and at home on Thursday (a 3-2 SO win over Buffalo), making this their third game in four days. 

The Jets are also playing a third game in four nights, but it must feel just a little easier having earned some redemption against Florida on Friday night, and holding the high-scoring Lighning to just one goal Thursday night. Oh, and plus, they were in Florida, so enter the Prudential Centre as the only people with a laudable GTL lifestyle.  

Hunt Moose – Hedberg is struggling, and if the Jets can get on him early, he might buckle and give this game up single handedly. That means simple hockey to start the game – screens, traffic, and lots of shots. I’m not a huge fan of emotional analyses from the blogosphere, and I can’t say he Would feel this, but it might be nice if he felt a little panic to start the game.

Solid defence – The Jets have put together two strong games in a row on solid defence. The PK has flipped a switch, and goals have been tough to come by for the opposition. Add in that Pavlevec is coming off an excellent game in Florida and has had success against NJ already this year, and the recipe is simple. Build the game from the defence.

Take penalties! – Wait, what? Yep, take penalties. The Devils have 7 shorthanded goals this year! SEVEN! Against an anemic Jets powerplay that has just 10 goals on the year, it might be a sound strategy. Or at least fun to watch.

Hide the fourth line – After the Cup run last year, Stephen Gionta and crew earned quite a reputation for being an effective and exciting fourth line. This year, they are getting buried at even strenght corsi against weak opposition. In the Devils favour is that they are the only line on the team playing on ice tilted against them. So… get them off the ice. Tough to do in a back-to-back, so watch for Pete DeBoer to mix Stephen Gionta and Ryan Carter into other lines to keep bodies fresh.