CANUCKS (11-12-2) at DEVILS (11-7-6)
7 p.m. ET; MSG+ 2, SNP, NHL.TV
Canucks team scope
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom will make his second start in the past seven games. Markstrom is 6-3-2 with a 2.73 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 12 games this season, and 1-4-0 with a 3.46 GAA and .869 save percentage in five games against the New Jersey Devils. The Canucks are playing the first of a five-game road trip after winning three of their past four (3-1-0). "It's way easier to start a road trip with a win instead of chasing it the whole trip," Markstrom said. "So this is an important game for us to start the road trip on the right foot." Center Bo Horvat, who the Canucks selected with the pick they acquired in the first round (No. 9) of the 2013 NHL Draft in a trade with the Devils for goaltender Cory Schneider, leads Vancouver in goals (eight) and faceoff wins (227), and is tied for the lead in points (16). The Canucks are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games against the Devils since 2008-09. Center Henrik Sedin leads Vancouver with 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 17 games against New Jersey. The Canucks, who held an optional skate Tuesday, are sixth in the League on the penalty kill (85.3 percent); they have denied 16 of 17 chances in the past seven games. "One of the keys for us on the penalty kill has been the fact we haven't been taking so many penalties to begin with," Markstrom said. "When we kill one or two penalties a game, it's a lot easier than when we're taking four or five penalties, so I think the penalty killers have been fresh and that's important."
Devils team scope
The Devils, 7-0-2 at Prudential Center, are the only team in the League that hasn't lost a home game in regulation this season and have tied a franchise record for the longest unbeaten streak in regulation at home (1987-88; 8-0-1). "The guys have done a good job competing and have taken a lot of pride in making [Prudential Center] a difficult place to play," coach John Hynes said. "When we're home in front of our fans, the players want to give them something they want to come and cheer for. We've been able to do that for the most part." Schneider will start but is 1-3-2 in his past six games, allowing at least three goals each time. He is 2-1-2 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in five games against the Canucks, who selected him with the No. 26 pick in the 2004 draft. Left wing Michael Cammalleri needs one point to reach 600 for his NHL career (286 goals, 313 assists). He has 50 goals and 97 points in 128 games with New Jersey.
Canucks projected lineup
Daniel Sedin -- Henrik Sedin -- Brandon Sutter
Sven Baertschi -- Bo Horvat -- Alexandre Burrows
Markus Granlund -- Michael Chaput -- Loui Eriksson
Jack Skille -- Brendan Gaunce -- Jayson Megna
Nikita Tryamkin -- Philip Larsen
Jacob Markstrom
Scratched: Alex Biega, Joseph Labate
Injured: Alexander Edler (finger), Derek Dorsett (shoulder), Jannik Hansen (rib), Anton Rodin (knee), Christopher Tanev (lower body)
Devils projected lineup
Taylor Hall -- Adam Henrique - PA Parenteau
Michael Cammalleri -- Travis Zajac -- Kyle Palmieri
Miles Wood -- Vernon Fiddler -- Nick Lappin
Beau Bennett -- Sergey Kalinin -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Cory Schneider
Scratched: Jacob Josefson, Jon Merrill
Injured: Pavel Zacha (facial laceration)
Status report
Dorsett, 29, will have neck surgery to repair disc degeneration. He is expected to make a full recovery, but there is no timeline for his return. ... Bennett returns to the Devils lineup after missing three games with a right leg laceration; forward John Quenneville was assigned to Albany of the American Hockey League to make room for Bennett. ... Kalinin is back after missing two games because of an illness. Kalinin will center Bennett and Smith-Pelly on the fourth line. … Zacha is out after being struck in the mouth by a puck in the first period at the Nashville Predators on Saturday. ... "Zacha is day to day and still recovering," Hynes said. "He on the mend but still in a little pain."
Who's hot
Horvat has three goals and seven points in his past seven games. ... Cammalleri has six goals and 11 points in his past six games.
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