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Devils-Bruins Preview

Nov 27, 2009 - 1:20 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

New Jersey (15-6-1) at Boston (12-8-4), 12:00 p.m. EDT

The New Jersey Devils nearly tied the NHL record for consecutive road wins to begin a season, but suddenly they can't buy a victory away from home.

The Boston Bruins, meanwhile, are hoping to carry their impressive road performances back home.

The Bruins look for a fifth consecutive win Friday afternoon against the visiting Devils, who defeated Boston at TD Garden last month during their perfect road start.

New Jersey (15-6-1) won its first nine games away from home - including a 2-1 victory in Boston on Oct. 29 - before losing 3-2 at Philadelphia on Nov. 16, falling one win short of the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres' league record 10 straight season-opening road victories.

The Devils came back from their three-game trip 0-2-1 before beating Ottawa 3-1 at home on Wednesday, but the Bruins (12-8-4) have recently turned into a tough road foe. Boston wrapped up a four-game, seven-day road trip Wednesday with a 2-1 shootout victory in Minnesota, winning despite registering 16 shots.

"It's one of those things we probably needed with where we were," coach Claude Julien said. "We were a little frustrated even before that four-game winning streak. This road trip has been good for us and good for the confidence. Now it's up to us to go back home and bring that in our own building as well."

The Bruins' streak began when winger Milan Lucic returned from a broken right finger that sidelined him for 14 games, and the 21-year-old has two goals since coming back. Lucic, however, limped off the ice late in the third period Wednesday after injuring his left knee, and his status won't be known until he's examined by team doctors.

Even if Lucic is out for a while, Marc Savard is back after missing 15 games with a broken left foot, and goaltender Tim Thomas appears close to returning from an upper-body injury. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner hasn't played since Nov. 14, but backup Tuukka Rask is 4-1-0 with a 1.94 goals-against average in his place.

Julien is happy to have both the veteran Thomas and Rask, a rookie, at his disposal.

"I think (Rask is) one of those franchise goaltenders, and we're fortunate right now to have two of those guys and it puts us in a position of strength," Julien said.

Thomas is 2-2-1 with a 1.60 GAA in his last five starts against New Jersey.

The Devils currently have five players on injured reserve, but they're thrilled to have Patrik Elias back in the lineup. The veteran center missed the team's first 13 games after offseason groin surgery, but he had five assists during their recent three-game road trip before scoring the game-winning goal Wednesday against the Senators.

"I'm starting to feel OK to play the way I can," Elias said. "This is a good sign. I'm starting to make the plays and I'm feeling more comfortable. I'm getting more shots, more often. Hopefully with that I'll get more opportunities."

One player who certainly hasn't been hurting for scoring chances is Zach Parise, who has seven goals and six assists during his current eight-game point streak. Parise, however, has been held to one goal and two assists in his last seven games versus Boston.

Martin Brodeur, who's 7-1-1 with a 1.64 GAA in nine starts since Oct. 31, is 7-2-0 with a 2.07 GAA in his last nine games against the Bruins.