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Hurricanes host struggling Devils

Feb 9, 2008 - 12:51 PM Carolina (27-26-4) at New Jersey (30-21-4) 7:00 pm EST

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) - Goals could be at a premium when the New Jersey Devils host the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.

New Jersey is regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the league. Behind future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur, the Devils are fourth in the league, allowing 2.36 goals per game.

Brodeur, who has started 14 straight and 24 of the last 25 games, has a 2.22 goals-against average and is second all-time with 522 wins.

The Devils have lost five of seven and are coming off a 2-1 loss to Anaheim on Thursday. The problem for New Jersey has not been defense, it has been scoring. The Devils are averaging just 2.8 goals in their last five games.

Things will not get easier against Carolina, which has been playing well defensively as of late.

Though the Hurricanes are allowing 3.16 goals per game, the team has allowed just 10 goals in its last five games.

However, like New Jersey, the Hurricanes have struggled in the offensive end, scoring just three goals in their last three games.

In a 2-1 win over Washington on Thursday, Erik Cole and Andrew Ladd tallied for Carolina, which has dropped six of the last seven meetings with New Jersey.