Cam Janssen Back in Devils Lineup Tonight in First Visit of Year to Rangers

Cam Janssen will be back in the Devils lineup tonight when they visit the newly-refurbished Madison Square Garden for the first time this season. The game comes exactly one week after New Jersey's 4-3 shootout win over the Blueshirts at the Prudential Center in Newark on Jan. 31.

A healthy scratch for the last six games, Janssen last skated in a 4-1 loss to Boston on Jan. 19. The Devils have won their last four games following the All-Star break, topping the Rangers, Canadiens, Flyers and Penguins in that span, and have scored a total of 20 goals in those four contests.

Anyone who follows NHL hockey, even casually, knows that Janssen isn't suiting up to galvanize the Devils power-play unit or shore up their penalty-killing efforts. He'll be expected to bring energy, put some hard hits on Ranger defensemen and likely drop the gloves as well.

One thing he isn't going to bring is scoring, although that's never going to be his game. With one assist in 36 outings so far this season, though, Janssen's going to need to get hot quickly if he's going to win his scoring bet with Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur this season.

Brodeur has already set up four goals this year in 34 games. Career-wise, Brodeur also has Janssen beat with a goal and 40 assists so far in regular-season play, compared to Janssen's 3-8—11 career line to date.

The St. Louis-born Janssen does have 730 career NHL penalty minutes, though. Look for him to add to that total tonight as the sixth-place Devils seek their fifth straight win overall and second in a row against the top team in the Eastern Conference.