The year 2011 has been one of rebound for the New Jersey Devils. On Saturday afternoon, the Devils look to close out the year in style on New Year's Eve at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins (3 p.m., MSG Plus).
The Devils used this calendar year to bounce back from what had been a troublesome 2010. They have gone 48-29-4 in 2011, including the end of last season, a far cry from the 32-40-8 record the Devils had in 2010.
New Jersey has won six of its last eight but still sits in fourth place in the NHL's Atlantic Division, one slot behind the Penguins. The Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead in their last time out, holding on to beat Buffalo 3-1 on Wednesday behind two goals from Petr Sykora.
The Penguins have won four of five, but fell 4-2 to Philadelphia on Thursday. Evgeni Malkin has scored six goals and 13 assists in the nine games since the Penguins lost Sidney Crosby to his latest concussion.
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