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Devils-Coyotes Preview

Jan 13, 2010 - 8:56 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New Jersey (32-11-1) at Phoenix (26-16-5), 9:00 p.m. EDT

Martin Brodeur probably deserves a break. The New Jersey Devils, though, might be foolish to give him one.

With their star goaltender coming off one of the best games of his career, the Devils continue what has been a successful-but-fragmented five-game road trip against the slumping Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.

Eastern Conference-leading New Jersey (32-11-1) got an outstanding performance from Brodeur to finish a frantic stretch with a 1-0 shootout win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.

Brodeur, who started his ninth straight game, set a career high for saves in a shutout with 51 and made four more in the shootout as New Jersey won for the 18th time in 23 games. He extended his NHL shutout record with his 107th and has four in his last 10 starts.

Tuesday ended a stretch in which the Devils took the ice four times in five nights.

A matchup against Tampa Bay on Friday night was suspended midway through the second period due to a lighting malfunction at the Prudential Center. The next day, New Jersey headed to Montreal for a 2-1 victory before returning home Sunday evening to complete the suspended game, a 4-2 loss.

Brodeur did get a breather in the resumption of the game versus Tampa Bay, with Yann Danis playing the final 29 minutes. Danis, though, has been limited to five starts, making it likely that Brodeur will get a chance to post another strong game at Phoenix.

Brodeur has three shutouts in seven road starts against the Coyotes franchise, posting a 1.99 goals-against average. He made 26 saves at home in a 5-2 win over Phoenix on March 12, the teams' only matchup last season.

Phoenix (26-16-5) has been held to one goal or none in three of its last five games. The Coyotes have dropped three straight (0-2-1) for the first time this season and four in a row at Jobing.com Arena since winning a franchise-record 10 straight there.

"We're not in rhythm right now," coach Dave Tippett said. "There are some mistakes going against us, and, like we've talked about since the start of the year, our margin for error is very slim on most nights."

Phoenix lost 3-1 to San Jose on Tuesday night, falling 10 points behind the Sharks in the Pacific Division after pulling within three two weeks ago.

"The last few games we've kind of dropped the ball and we have to be a lot better than what we've showed on the last couple," captain Shane Doan said. "It's hard. If you could put your finger on it you'd change it but it's probably a little bit of everything."

Doan, in a tie with Matthew Lombardi for the team lead in points with 28 (12 goals, 16 assists), has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last six games. He has one goal and three assists in 18 games versus the Devils.

Phoenix will have to get by again without one of the league's best scoring defensemen, as Ed Jovanovski completes a two-game suspension for an elbow to the head of New York Islanders rookie John Tavares in a 5-4 shootout loss Saturday night.