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Devils host Pens in battle of struggling teams

Dec 29, 2014 - 3:57 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of teams in the midst of three-game slides will clash on Monday evening when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the New Jersey Devils.

The Penguins are on their longest slide of the season, one that was extended with Saturday's 3-0 setback to the Washington Capitals. That loss snapped Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak at home and it comes in having dropped four straight (0-1-3) on the road.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 31 saves and allowed all three goals on Saturday, though he didn't get beat for a second time until 5:36 into the third period.

"They grabbed momentum with that second goal," said Penguins forward Sidney Crosby. "We were hanging around for a while."

The Pens are dealing with a rash of injuries and have also been one of several teams this season to see some of their players diagnosed with the mumps. Forward Steve Downie and backup goaltender Thomas Greiss are two players currently dealing with the illness.

Pittsburgh caught no breaks on Saturday, with Patric Hornqvist suffering a lower-body injury that is expected to sideline the forward for a few weeks according to head coach Mike Johnston. Defenseman Kris Letang also did not practice on Sunday due to a bruised right ankle, but was expected to make the trip to New Jersey.

The Penguins have won the first two of five meetings with the Devils this season, with both victories coming in Pittsburgh. Crosby scored twice in an 8-3 rout on Oct. 28, while Evgeni Malkin had a goal and Fleury posted 29 saves in a 1-0 triumph on Dec. 2.

Fleury is 19-22-4 versus the Devils in his career, posting a 2.44 goals against average, .917 save percentage and five shutouts.

New Jersey has won four straight and 12 of its past 14 at home versus Pittsburgh, a trend it would like to continue in its second game since firing Peter DeBoer as head coach.

DeBoer was let go on Friday and president and general manager Lou Lamoriello named Adam Oates and Scott Stevens co-coaches the following day ahead of a meeting with the New York Rangers. Oates will handle the forwards and Stevens the defense, with Lamoriello joining them on the bench for an unknown length of time.

The shake up didn't help versus the Rangers, with the Devils falling 3-1 to lose for the eighth time in nine games. Cory Schneider made 25 saves and Steve Bernier had the goal.

"It was interesting just watching, listening and seeing what was transpiring, and I thought it was extremely positive. The bench was extremely alive," Lamoriello said.

New Jersey did see forwards Dainius Zubrus and Jacob Josefson return to the lineup from injury, but also played without forwards Martin Havlat (illness), Michael Ryder (mumps) and Patrik Elias (mumps).

Schneider, who has lost his past six starts, is likely to start this game, but is 0-4-0 in his career versus the Devils with a 3.30 GAA and .867 save percentage. He started both losses this season.