Carolina @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2018 ) New Jersey 1, Carolina 2

The New Jersey Devils are buried in last place in the Metropolitan Division and have gone more than six weeks without winning back-to-back games, a drought they will try to end when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in a Saturday matinee. New Jersey will again be without leading scorer Taylor Hall, who will sit out his second straight game due to a lower-body injury.

Hall has missed three of the past seven games but the Devils are 2-0-1 without the reigning league MVP, including Thursday's 5-2 victory at Boston. “We’ve always had that next-man up type of mentality," New Jersey forward Blake Coleman said. "It’s about who’s in, not who’s out.” While the Devils have dropped 14 of 19 (5-8-6), Carolina is only two points ahead of them in the division after suffering its ninth defeat in 12 games (3-7-2) with Thursday's 3-1 setback at Washington. "I think we just weren't ready to go like we needed to be. That's on me," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, FS Carolina, MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (15-16-5): The emphasis at Friday's practice was working on the power play, which failed on four chances in the loss to the Capitals and has come up empty in 18 man-advantage situations over the past five games. "We've moved the units around, put in new people. We've tried quite a few different things," Brind'Amour said. "But at the end of the day, you've got to execute. ... We've got some high-end players who need to make plays. That's what it comes down to." Forward Sebastian Aho scored the lone goal in Thursday's loss, giving him eight tallies and 13 points during the last nine games.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (13-16-7): Rookie netminder Mackenzie Blackwood earned his first NHL victory with a memorable performance, turning aside 40 shots against Boston in his second career start and fourth appearance. "Now you have a big mountain of a man who's in the net and has great athleticism but also plays with poise and is in good position," Devils coach John Hynes said of the 6-foot-4 Blackwood. "That's tough to beat." While Hynes had not named a starter for Saturday's game, Coleman was back at practice Friday after taking a shoulder to the head that earned Bruins forward David Backes a three-game suspension.

OVERTIME

1. Devils F Kyle Palmieri has seven goals in his last 10 games after scoring on the power play Thursday.

2. Hurricanes G Petr Mrazek is 4-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average versus New Jersey.

3. Devils C Nico Hischier had two goals and four points in four games against Carolina.

PREDICTION: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2