Two of the league's most disappointing teams will meet for the third time this season, as the New Jersey Devils host the Buffalo Sabres tonight at Prudential Center.
The Devils are dead last in the Eastern Conference with just nine points on the year and Buffalo is not doing much better in the standings, sitting just one point ahead of New Jersey. Neither team has been able to win a game on home ice this year and the Devils will try to snap an 0-5-1 start at the Prudential Center tonight.
The slow starts are surprising considering both clubs are coming off seasons where they won their respective divisions. New Jersey won the Atlantic and was second in the conference with 103 points, while the Sabres claimed the Northeast Division crown by hitting the century mark on the dot.
Jersey began the 2010-11 season series by posting a 1-0 overtime win in Buffalo on October 13. However, the Sabres exacted revenge and then some with a 6-1 rout of the Devils in New Jersey on Oct. 23. Thomas Vanek led the way for the Sabres in the most recent meeting with two goals.
The Devils have five wins in the last eight encounters overall and the clubs have split the last eight matchups in the Garden State.
The Devils, who are 4-10-1 on the season, are looking for their first win at home this season. They haven't gotten significant contributions from guys like Ilya Kovalchuk, Jamie Langenbrunner or Travis Zajac. The Devils are also dealing with the injury to Zach Parise, which hurts their offense as well.
The Devils have been atrocious at home, but are playing an equally problematic Sabres team. A win would do some good for a team in some trouble.
(The Sports Network contributed to this report)