Devils vs. Penguins

New Jersey -120 vs. Pittsburgh

Many expected the New Jersey Devils to wither up and die away as they waited for the return of their franchise-star Martin Brodeur. Last month the net-minder underwent surgery and is not expected back until late winter. Doom and gloom was expected for the Devils because Brodeur had started nearly every game for New Jersey during his long and storied career, which, up until this season, was primarily injury-free.

The Devils (14-8-2) seemed lost and listless in the first couple of games sans-Brodeur, but have really gotten their game in order over the past few weeks. New Jersey beat Montreal 2-1 in overtime Saturday night for their second straight overtime win, they beat Philadelphia in an extra stanza two nights before. The Devils have won seven of their last eight, with four of those games either won in a shootout or overtime.

New Jersey’s only blemish in their past eight games was a regulation loss against Wednesday night’s opponent, Pittsburgh. New Jersey lost in Pittsburgh 4-1 back on November 29. In that game the Devils played more like people thought they would play without Brodeur. His replacement Scott Clemmensen has been solid, going 6-3-0 with a 2.32 goals against average and a 0.922 save percentage, which is actually better than Brodeur’s 0.916.

The reining Eastern Conference champions have looked nothing like their spring version in recent weeks. They come into Wednesday’s game losers of two straight and four of six. Besides beating New Jersey, they also won at Carolina. Monday night the Penguins (15-8-4) squandered a two-goal lead against Buffalo at home for a 4-3 loss.

The Penguins are playing slightly better, 8-4-2, on the road than at home, 7-4-2. New Jersey is 7-4-1 at Prudential Center. The teams have met twice before this season with the Devils winning in overtime on October 11 and Pittsburgh winning the most recent contest.

InSpin.com

Lakers vs. Suns

Los Angeles -12 1/2 vs. Phoenix

The Los Angeles Lakers latest roll came to a screeching halt last night in the most unlikely of all places, Sacramento. L.A. lost for only the third time all season Tuesday, as they dropped a game to the Kings 113-101, giving the Sacramento only its seventh win in 22 times. Perhaps the Lakers were looking ahead to tonight’s opponent at the Staples Center. The rival Phoenix Suns visit, which usually makes for a fun contest, but now that former Laker Shaquille O’Neal is now on the Suns‘ roster, it makes the rivalry even more exciting. Sadly, if the Lakers were looking ahead, they did so for nothing-at least relating to O’Neal.

Los Angeles (17-3) will receive a break from a competitive standpoint as O’Neal will not travel to his old stomping grounds as he will be attending a funeral. It would have been the first time that O’Neal has stepped foot on the Staples Center floor as a Phoenix Sun, although he did play there thrice in a Miami Heat uniform. Laker fans will have to wait until February 26 for their next shot to boo or cheer the big man.

The Suns (13-9) have bounced back following a four-game skid to win three in a row. Tuesday night they dispatched the Milwaukee Bucks easily 125-110 to claim their most recent victory. Rookie Robin Lopez will replace O’Neal in the starting lineup. Without O’Neal in the lineup, Phoenix is 1-2.

In the long NBA season, not too many games can be considered shockers, but Sacramento’s upset of Los Angeles may be just that. The Lakers looked out of synch in many instances, including Kobe Bryant who missed 11 of his first 13 shots and only hit on nine of 25 field attempts. L.A. shot a measly 40.2 percent from the field.

The Lakers took the first game between these teams on November 20 and the Suns have lost four of the last five in the series.

InSpin.com