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Devils aim to bounce back in Montreal

Feb 6, 2011 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils will try to get back in the win column this afternoon, when they visit the Montreal Canadiens for a clash at the Bell Centre.

The Devils were dealt just their third loss in 11 games on Friday night, as they dropped an overtime decision to visiting Florida. Despite the setback, New Jersey still has suffered just one regulation loss in its last 11 trips to the ice (8-1-2).

Montreal, meanwhile, has won three straight games since returning from the All-Star break and enters today just two points behind idle Boston for first place in the Northeast Division.

The Canadiens hosted the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon and the Habs recorded a 2-0 win over their Original Six rivals. Carey Price stopped all 35 shots he faced to record his fifth shutout of the season.

Price could get the start on back-to-back days this afternoon. He is 3-4-1 with a 2.13 goals-against average in eight career tests against the Devils.

Scott Gomez and Tomas Plekanec lit the lamp for the Canadiens. Gomez, who spent the first seven years of his NHL career in New Jersey, has four goals and 11 assists in 19 career games against his former team.

The Canadiens were without James Wisniewski yesterday, as the defenseman sat out with flu-like symptoms. Wisniewski, who has 13 points in 15 games since coming over from the Islanders in a trade, is questionable for today.

Montreal has won two straight, four of five and six of its last eight on home ice. The Habs are 18-6-4 overall at the Bell Centre this season.

New Jersey led its game against the Panthers by a 3-2 score heading into the third period, but Mike Santorelli's short-handed tally with 7:08 left in regulation would send the game to OT. Rostislav Olesz then scored two minutes into the extra session to lift Florida to the 4-3 triumph.

Olesz took a pass from Radek Dvorak in the New Jersey end and from the right circle snapped a simple wrister that fooled Johan Hedberg for the win.

Travis Zajac had a goal and an assist while Jason Arnott and Mark Fayne also scored for the Devils, while Hedberg stopped 24 shots in defeat.

"I thought we played well, we did a lot of good things in the second and third period," said Fayne. "We just couldn't hold on and let this one slip through."

The Devils are 8-17-1 as the guest this season, but they have won four of their last six road games.

Expect Martin Brodeur to be back in the crease for the Devils today after getting a night of rest on Friday. The legendary Montreal native is 39-16-4 with five ties and a sparkling 1.75 goals-against average in 60 career games against the Habs.

Brodeur recorded a shutout for the Devils in their 3-0 win at Montreal on Oct. 21. It was his ninth career white-washing against the Habs.

Montreal posted a 5-1 victory in New Jersey on Dec. 2 to even the season series, but the Devils have taken eight of 10 overall from the Canadiens. They have also won five straight and nine out of 11 at the Bell Centre.