(Sports Network) - Both of New Jersey's wins this year have been shutouts by Martin Brodeur and the club has yet to claim back-to-back victories this season.
That won't stop the Devils from resting their 38-year-old netminder tonight.
Johan Hedberg is expected to make his first start in a Devils uniform this evening when his club hosts theBuffalo Sabres at the Prudential Center, where New Jersey is just 0-3-1 so far this season.
Expected to be among the elite in the Eastern Conference this season, the Devils are just 2-4-1 at the onset. They opened the season with losses in four of five, claiming the lone victory of that span on Oct. 13 in a 1-0 overtime win at Buffalo, before Thursday's 3-0 triumph at Montreal.
Brodeur made 24 saves in beating the Sabres and posted another 29 versus the Canadiens to notch the 112th shutout of his career. He has a 2.70 goals- against average on the season and .904 save percentage while starting all seven games of 2010-11.
Jason Arnott scored and had an assist versus Montreal, while Zach Parise and Matt Taormina also lit the lamp.
"It has been a rocky start," said Brodeur of the first handful of games for New Jersey this season. "The shutout is good, but all we need are wins."
While Hedberg has yet to start a game for the Devils this year, he did relieve Brodeur on Oct. 9 in Washington. He draws a favorable opponent for his first start as Hedberg is 12-2-1 with a tie and 2.60 GAA in his career versus the Sabres.
The Devils as a team have won three of four and five of their last seven versus the Sabres overall, but have dropped three of their last four at home in the series.
Buffalo has lost six of seven since winning in Ottawa to begin the season on Oct. 8. The Sabres dropped a 4-2 home decision to the Senators last night, falling to 0-4-1 at HSBC Arena this year. It marks the first time Buffalo has failed to secure a win in its first five home games since dropping the its first seven at home in 1993-94.
Tim Connolly had both goals in Friday's defeat and Ryan Miller made 28 saves.
"We weren't as good with the puck, made some poor puck decisions. Some of our decisions between the blue lines weren't very good," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, whose club starts a four-game road trip.
Forward Jason Pominville missed his fifth straight game last night due to a concussion, while defender Shaone Morrisonn sat out his fourth in a row due to a groin ailment.
Miller made 34 saves in the loss to the Devils on Oct. 13 and is 6-9-4 with a 2.37 GAA when facing them lifetime.