The Devils are heading back to the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa Bay tonight, the same site they kicked off their season-opening nine game road trip. The Lightning of course bested the Devils in that opening contest by a score of 2-1, as it was Johnny Oduya’s first major blunder of the season (we’d later find out it was the first of many…) that cost the Devils the game. Alas, all was forgiven on Halloween night when the Devils welcomed Tampa for their inaugural visit to The Rock, and handed them a party favor of whoop-ass, humbling Tampa 6-1. The Lightning dropped their most recent game, at Carolina last night, by a score of 4-3 despite holding a 3-1 lead in the third period.

Tonight’s game will give the Devils a chance to sweep their current four-game road trip, but the St. Pete Times Forum has not been a friendly place to Martin Brodeur in recent history. Since January of 2002 the all-star net-minder has racked up a dismal 2-5-2 record when visiting Tampa, despite posting a very respectable 2.06 GAA over that span. It will be very intriguing to see how his performance will unfold tonight, seeing as he is coming off his first shutout of the season — one that Zigmund Palffy himself wouldn’t have been able to break.

Speaking of Palffy, he may be retired, but as far as Brodeur is concerned, he may as well be reincarnated in the form(s) of Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier. Lecavalier has already scored three goals on Brodeur this season. Both him and St. Louis will carry four-game point scoring streaks against the Devils into tonight’s ho-down.

Below is an excerpt from Tom Gulitti’s Fire & Ice Blog:

Devils coach Brent Sutter said this morning that Patrik Elias will miss his second game in a row tonight because of the flu. Sutter said he will make no lineup changes from Friday’s 3-0 win in Atlanta, meaning he’ll dress seven defensemen again and LW Mike Rupp and D Karel Rachunek will be healthy scratches. Martin Brodeur will start in net.”

I’m starting to grow very curious about Mike Rupp’s situation. It’s become rather blatant that Brent Sutter feels more comfortable without Rupp in the lineup. I reckon only time will tell the rest of that story. I’m not too concerned about Elias missing tonight as well, as the team put together a pretty solid offensive effort without him. I wouldn’t get too comfortable, but it’s not something to start throwing TV remotes at just yet. I am, however, worried about Rachunek missing another game. Karel leads the team in +/- with a +10 and despite a few hiccups, has been very sound in his own end.

C’mon Karel, play hockey, then worry about your family. Priorities man, priorities!!

We apologize for the technical difficulties during last night’s game, and we assure you the live-cap will happen tonight, and it will be juicier than a left-over turkey sandwhich! Josh comin’ at ya shortly!