The Devils will take another crack at their first home win of the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning invade The Rock tonight.

Tampa is skating into New Jersey fresh off a 3-1 loss to the lowly New York Rangers. Vincent Lecavalier bested Rangers’ keeper Henrik Lundqvist on a penalty shot, but it wasn’t enough to stop a toothless Jaromir Jagr and the Blueshirts, who improved their record to 4-6-1, just one win ahead of the last-place Devils.

Yes, last place. In the whole league.

Red ‘n Black hope to give the hometown crowd a little more to cheer about this time around after dropping the home opener to the mighty Ottawa Senators. Defenseman Karel Rachunek is doubtful for tonight’s meeting, suffering a groin pull late in the 4-1 loss to Ottawa. Mike Mottau, who sat out the previous two games in favor of the recently-acquired Sheldon Brookbank, is expected to skate in place of Rachunek.

Here’s my formula for a win tonight:

1. Super-glue Johnny Oduya’s stick to his gloves.
2. Play 60 minutes. Not 45. Not 30. Sixty.
3. Score more goals than Tampa.

Ya know, the basics.

Time to put the shovel down, boys. You dig yourselves any deeper and you might as well start mixing the concrete.

Yes, I’m cynical, but it’s not without reason.

Hey Marty, is tonight the night?