The Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils will meet for the second time this season after New Jersey's 5-3 win on November 7. We recently covered that loss for the Canadiens, as it was the catalyst for their epic run, which got them into the playoff picture. The Devils have struggled lately, with a 3-4-3 record over their last ten games. However, they are still seven points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets for third in the Metropolitan Division and three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes.
How to Watch New Jersey Devils vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date: Saturday, January 25
Time:7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
Venue: Bell Centre
How to Watch: NHL Network, CityTV, Sportsnet East, TVA Sports, MSGSN2, FuboTV
Nico Hischier has been leading the Devils over the past five games, recording four goals and two assists. However, it was a two-goal performance from Dawson Mercer in their last game against the Boston Bruins that helped snap a four-game losing streak. Jack Hughes continues to lead the way for the Devils overall with 56 points in 50 games. The problem is the Devils' lack of depth is starting to show, as he skated on a line with Nathan Bastian and Paul Cotter in the Bruins game.
The line rollout worked for the Devils in that game, but it's clear to see why they are losing more than they are winning. A first line with Cotter and Bastian isn't the best situation for a contending team, and they were dealt an even greater blow with Jacob Markstrom's injury against the Bruins. Markstrom will miss the next 4-6 weeks, which puts former friend Jake Allen into the spotlight.
The Canadiens must get back into the win column to avoid falling back in the standings. There are plenty of surging teams in the Eastern Conference, and the logjam in the wild-card standings makes it so teams can't afford to lose many games. The question for the Canadiens is who will oppose Allen in the Canadiens' starter crease.