The New Jersey Devils opened the campaign like a house on fire by recovering from dropping the season opener with eight consecutive victories.

Then came a collective slap in the face when the Devils headed out on a western swing. New Jersey lost three of four games on its most recent road trip. In those defeats at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, the Devils were outscored by a collective 17-7 margin. The lone victory of the trek was a 4-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings, but that joy was easily forgotten by the time they headed back east.

The Devils will turn the corner, but facing the Montreal Canadiens in the return to action on Thursday is not a set up for success.

New Jersey remains atop the Metropolitan Division, but the Canadiens are sittin

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