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Ducks-Devils Preview

Nov 11, 2009 - 12:21 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Anaheim (6-7-2) at New Jersey (11-4-0), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The New Jersey Devils' season-opening road winning streak is still alive, but they're also starting to show signs that they can win on their home ice.

The Devils have won their past two at the Prudential Center, and they'll look to stretch their overall streak to six consecutive victories Wednesday night when they host the Anaheim Ducks.

New Jersey (11-4-0) is two road wins shy of tying the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres for the most victories away from home to begin a season, but it didn't start with nearly as much success in its own building.

The Devils lost their first three games at the Prudential Center, but they've turned it around in their last two contests there. New Jersey recorded home wins over Washington and the New York Islanders last week, then improved to 8-0-0 on the road Saturday by bouncing back from a two-goal deficit to beat Ottawa 3-2.

"It seems we find ways to win," goaltender Martin Brodeur said. "We stuck with it. It wasn't a really pretty game on our part, but we came through."

Each of the Devils' five straight victories has come by one goal, including one in a shootout. They last won six in a row Jan. 13-30, when they reeled off eight consecutive wins.

"This is our team," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "They believe they can come back. It's all tight games that we're getting, but they never let down and they always feel they have a chance to come back."

New Jersey came back against the Senators thanks to its power play, which struck three times in the game's final 25 minutes. The Devils are 6 for 16 with the man advantage in their past three games after going 2 for 27 (7.4 percent) over their previous eight.

Brodeur is 14-9-0 with a tie and a 1.87 goals-against average in 24 career starts against the Ducks (6-7-2), whom he hasn't beaten since blanking them in Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup finals.

The goaltender he outdueled in that game, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, but it doesn't look like the two will be going head-to-head Wednesday. Giguere should be available for the first time since straining his groin Oct. 24, but he'll likely still be backing up starter Jonas Hiller.

"I'm sure that we're going to have to use him here very shortly," coach Randy Carlyle told the Ducks' official Web site. "We'll see how things go on Wednesday in New Jersey and we'll make a decision."

Hiller beat Brodeur in his lone career start against the Devils, making 34 saves in a 2-1 road win Feb. 8, 2008.

He's helped the Ducks win their last two games heading into a four-game road trip, earning his first shutout Thursday in a win over Nashville and making 27 stops in a 4-3 win over Phoenix on Saturday.

"We're heading in the right direction now," said defenseman and former Devil Scott Niedermayer, whose brother Rob is currently out with an upper-body injury for New Jersey. "Considering how the last few weeks have gone here, it's good to come out with a couple of wins here at home."

Brodeur could have his hands full with the suddenly potent Anaheim attack, which has scored 20 goals in its past five games. Corey Perry has six of those, and Ryan Getzlaf has seven assists despite not scoring a goal.