CANADIENS (-145) at DEVILS (+125), 7 p.m.
Pick: Canadiens To Win (-145)
The Canadiens head to New Jersey to take on the Devils (24-30-8) after a busy Monday for NJ General Manager Ray Shero. Shero opened up the floodgates of Trade Deadline Day very early by dealing G Keith Kinkaid (famous for his emoji-filled victory tweets) to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth-round pick in the 2022 Entry Draft. This was not a precursor for the Blue Jackets moving All-Star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky before the deadline but rather just goalie reassurance down the stretch as Columbus is going all in for the Cup this year.
Kinkaid served the Devils well in his tenure and was a huge reason for them making the playoffs last season. In a corresponding move, the Devils recalled rookie G Mackenzie Blackwood form the AHL to fill the back-up goaltending role behind Corey Schneider. Blackwood has sowed immense amounts of promise during his stints in New Jersey this season and fans are excited to see what he can bring to the team moving forward. Last time the Devils had a goalie with the initials M.B. it worked out pretty well so hopefully that trend continues. Lastly for goalie news, the Devils signed G Evan Cormier to a three-year entry level contract. Cormier will play for the Devils’ AHL affiliate the Binghamton Devils.
The Devils also traded F Marcus Johansson to the Boston Bruins for a second-round pick in the 2019 draft and a fourth-round pick in 2020. Not quite the haul fans were expecting, but a decent return nonetheless.
The Devils recalled their first-round pick from 2016 in F Michael McLeod for his second stint with the big club this year along with their second-round pick in F Nathan Bastian, who will also be making his second appearance in New Jersey. To make room on the roster, NJ sent F Brett Seney and F Joey Anderson back down to Binghamton. Newly acquired D Connor Carrick, who will sport No. 5, looks to make his debut in the red and black as well Monday. Lots of change happening in the Devils lineup so chemistry between lines and defensive pairings may be tough to come by. That coupled with F Jepser Bratt succumbing to injury (day-to-day upper body) will surely make this a tough one for NJ.
The Canadiens (33-22-7) currently own the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conferenc. F Max Domi has really found his game in Montreal and finds ways to contribute nightly. He and 2018 third overall pick F Jesperi Kotkaniemi should keep the Devils’ hands tied for a majority of the night. The Habs made some roster changes as well before the deadline, acquiring F Jordan Weal from the Coyotes in exchange for F Michael Chaput.