Florida @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 6, 2019 ) New Jersey 4, Florida 3

A pair of teams trying to find their way during a disappointing start to the season look to create a spark when the Florida Panthers visit the winless New Jersey Devils on Monday afternoon. The Panthers have won just once in five games (1-2-2) after falling 3-2 in a shootout at the New York Islanders on Saturday and the Devils (0-3-2) have been shut out in two of their last three contests.

Florida added top free agents in two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, defenseman Anton Stralman and right wing Brett Connolly during the offseason but have had trouble putting together a 60-minute effort in the early going. “We had a decent start to the game,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville told reporters after Saturday’s loss. “We did some good things and then try and make some plays that aren’t really there. … If we can get simpler, which means move the puck ahead, keep it, support it and put it in good areas, it’s going to make it a lot easier.” New Jersey has totaled just five goals in four games since coughing up a 4-0 lead in its season-opening shootout loss to Winnipeg but hopes to turn things around with its next six games taking place at home. “A good homestand is somewhere you can gain momentum,” Devils goaltender Cory Schneider told reporters. “We need to get a win, get some confidence, and hopefully it snowballs from there.”

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FS Florida, MSG (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (1-2-2): Mike Hoffman was kept off the scoresheet on Saturday for the first time this season after recording five goals and a pair of assists over his first four contests. Evgenii Dadonov has scored in three straight games after going without a point in his first two contests while Jonathan Huberdeau has notched at least one assist in four straight games. Bobrovsky, who was rested in favor of backup Samuel Montembeault on Saturday, has gone 1-2-1 with a 3.87 goals-against average and .882 save percentage in his first four contests this season.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (0-3-2): New Jersey still is waiting for offensive boosts from first overall draft pick Jack Hughes (zero points, 10 shots) and former Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban (one assist, nine shots). Taylor Hall, the 2018 Hart Trophy recipient who missed most of last season with a knee injury, also has yet to score a goal in five games while recording three assists and a minus-1 rating. Captain Andy Greene (upper body) was placed on injured reserve on Friday while fellow defenseman Matt Tennyson was recalled from Binghamton of the American Hockey League but was not in the lineup for Saturday's loss to Boston.

OVERTIME

1. Schneider’s next game will be the 400th of his career.

2. Panthers C Frank Vatrano, who finished with career highs of 24 goals and 39 points last season, has yet to record a point in his first five games of 2019-20.

3. New Jersey finished with the third-fewest points in the league last campaign but went 2-0-1 against Florida.

PREDICTION: Devils 4, Panthers 3