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Predators-Devils Preview

Feb 12, 2010 - 2:43 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Nashville (32-22-5) at New Jersey (36-20-3), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The addition of a major offensive weapon hasn't immediately helped the New Jersey Devils snap out of a lengthy midseason funk, and they're running out of chances to regain their swagger before the Olympic break.

The Devils need a victory Friday night against the visiting Nashville Predators to avoid their first four-game losing streak of the season - and ensure their grip on the Atlantic Division lead - and they'll hope for some help from Ilya Kovalchuk, who is still seeking his first goal with his new team.

New Jersey's offense has had some surprising struggles since last week's acquisition of Kovalchuk, who has more goals than any NHL player except Alex Ovechkin since the league's season-long lockout in 2004-05.

The former Atlanta star had two assists in his Devils debut, a 4-3 comeback win over Toronto last Friday, but Kovalchuk has been held without a point while New Jersey has totaled five goals during a three-game losing streak.

The Devils' struggles go back almost a month, as they've dropped 11 of their last 15 games, a 4-9-2 stretch that began Jan. 14. Their lead on second-place Pittsburgh in the division has slipped to one point.

"Guys are not feeling confident about themselves," goalie Martin Brodeur said after Wednesday's 3-2 overtime loss to Philadelphia. "It's been a little tougher to get going both offensively and defensively. ... We're going to get out of it. It's just a matter of time. We have two more games before the break and we need that little push."

New Jersey (36-20-3) expects to get a boost from the return of leading scorer Zach Parise, who is also one of the top forwards on the U.S. Olympic team. Parise's streak of 187 straight games played ended Wednesday because of an upper-body injury, but he plans to play Friday.

"It's something you take a lot of pride in, playing all the time," Parise told the Devils' official Web site. "When it gets to the point when you physically can't play, it (stinks) but you just can't do anything about it. You never want to miss a game."

Parise and former New Jersey center Jason Arnott each scored twice in the Devils' previous meeting with Nashville, a 3-2 shootout win for the Predators on Nov. 19. Three of the four games between the teams since the lockout have gone to shootouts.

Opening a four-game road trip before the break, the Predators (32-22-5) were 12 seconds away from a win Tuesday on Long Island, but they allowed the tying goal and lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Islanders.

Nashville bounced back 24 hours later, beating the New York Rangers 2-1 to improve to 3-1-2 in its last six games as the club tries to remain in playoff position in the Western Conference.

"It was huge. Really big, especially coming back to back," Arnott said. "Guys really worked hard and everybody contributed. We got unbelievable goaltending at the end and we stayed out of the penalty box for most of the third period. That was key for us."

Dan Ellis made 18 of his 37 saves in the final 20 minutes after Nashville got the game-winner in the second period from rookie Colin Wilson.

The No. 7 overall draft pick in 2008, Wilson was playing his 12th NHL game and second since being recalled from Milwaukee of the AHL, where he had 29 points in 35 games.