New Jersey @ San Jose preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 14, 2018 ) San Jose 2, New Jersey 3

Setting up goals has not been Joe Pavelski's forte this season, but scoring them has become a regular occurrence of late. The captain attempts to hit the 20-goal plateau for the sixth consecutive season in only his 32nd game when the San Jose Sharks host the New Jersey Devils on Monday.

Pavelski has notched only six assists in 2018-19 after registering his second-highest career total of 44 last season but has been tallying at a rapid pace. The 34-year-old recorded his team-leading 19th goal of the campaign - and sixth over seven contests - in Saturday's 5-3 victory at Arizona, giving him at least one point in 11 of his last 14 games. New Jersey is wrapping up its three-game California trip after suffering a 6-5 shootout loss in Anaheim on Sunday. Kyle Palmieri registered his second consecutive two-goal performance and fifth overall this season while Marcus Johansson scored with 58 seconds left in the third period as the Devils earned at least one point for the third time in four contests (1-1-2).

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, MSG Plus (New Jersey), NBCS California (San Jose)

ABOUT THE DEVILS (10-12-6): Palmieri has become quite the goal scorer since being acquired from Anaheim in June 2015, as he is four tallies away from reaching the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in as many campaigns with New Jersey after topping out at 14 during his five-season stint with the Ducks. The 27-year-old had gone six games without a tally and netted just one in nine contests before the team landed in the Golden State. Reigning Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall has notched four assists in his last two games but remains one goal shy of 200 for his career.

ABOUT THE SHARKS (15-11-5): Lukas Radil waited many years to achieve his goal of playing in the NHL, but the 28-year-old Czech needed only six games to net his first tally in the league. Radil, who had split his entire career between his homeland and Russia before signing with San Jose in April, snapped a tie against the Coyotes late in the third period to become the 11th member of the team to record a game-winning goal this season. Logan Couture, who leads the team with 30 points, has collected four goals and nine assists over his last 11 contests.

OVERTIME

1. Sharks F Joe Thornton passed Steve Yzerman (1,514) for 18th place on the all-time games played list Saturday and is nine away from tying Brendan Shanahan (1,524) for 17th.

2. New Jersey C Nico Hischier has registered two goals and three assists over his last five games.

3. San Jose is 7-1-1 in its last nine contests at home.

PREDICTION: Sharks 4, Devils 2