New Jersey Devils seeking victory against Toronto Maple Leafs – NHL Preview
The Toronto Maple Leafs deserve credit for playing exceptionally well and securing a place among the top eight teams of National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference, but the goal is not achieved yet and one has to retain the position after acquiring it.
A glance at Leafs’ recent form does not indicate bright prospects. To prove this conception wrong, they have to beat the in-form New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Here is a look at both these teams.
Leafs
The Leafs are ranked at eighth spot in the Eastern Conference with 64 points after 59 games.
They have all the reasons to worry about as Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals are not far away from replacing Leafs’ position and a defeat can push them out of the safe zone.
Out of the last six games, Leafs have only won one.
They lost four straight games, won the next and then once again lost another.
The recent defeat came against Vancouver Canucks who scored six goals in the game while allowing only two.
Leafs’ coach said after the loss:
“We played a really good team with probably our battery down a little bit. They really took advantage of us. Every little opening, they moved the puck really well, and we had our heads spinning at times in our own end."
New Jersey Devils
The impressive New Jersey Devils have only lost two out of nine games played this month.
Ranked at fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with 72 points after 58 games, Devils are currently on a three-game winning streak and have a strong chance of stretching it to four.
They entered the month with a one-game winning streak, which was increased to five before the team lost two games in a row.
In their last game, Devils defeated Montreal Canadiens, who scored a goal in the third period, while the winning team got a goal in each of the three periods.
Predictions
Devils will win.
The sum of goals scored by both the teams might stay under six.
If Leafs win, the winning margin will be two goals or less.
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