Tonight, our New Jersey Devils hit the road (and plane) to take on the Vancouver Canucks in the first game of a three-game western Canada road trip that will also include the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.  The Devils are hitting the road after winning a big Atlantic Division game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. 

Even though the next three games are not divisional battles, they are just as important.  The Canucks have been cold lately, lost four of their last five games, but tonight, as Jeremy pointed out, Roberto Luongo is healed and ready to play tonight.  That could be a kick start to get Vancouver back on track as Luongo can be equally impressive as Martin Brodeur at times.  On offense, Marcus Naslund and the Sedin twins (Henrick and Daniel) provide a one, two scoring punch.

After tonight's game, the Devils will get two nights off before traveling to Edmonton.  The Oilers are a kind of a sleeper team to watch out for.  They play a high paced game, have a great crowd, and although they are sitting in the basement of their division, they still have a .500 record.  With the likes of Shawn Horcroff and Ales Hemsky, the Oilers have the potential to blow any game open.

The Devils will then get another day before going into Calgary to face the red-hot Calgary Flames.  The Flames have gained a point in every game they have played thus far in December.  They have won their last five games, all on the road, and they can win all different ways; from a 3-2 defensive style win over the Chicago Blackhawks to a 9-6 back-and-forth win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Jarome Iginla, Kristian Huselius, and Daymond Langkow  lead the offense, and have been on a tear lately, while Dion Phaneuf backstops the defense while adding an offensive threat to the game.  Keep in mind Miikka Kiprusoff in net for the Flames, one of the best net minders in the game today.

The Devils have their work cut out for them over the next week to keep their hold on the Division lead and to move towards the Ottawa Senators for first overall in the Eastern Conference. 

I liked what I saw on Sunday against the Flyers; great team work and much better defense than the Phoenix game.  Let's hope that Marty can keep up that solid wall in net.  Zach Parise, who was actually held without a goal Sunday, should get plenty of chances on this road trip as the western Conference teams play an upscale high-scoring type game, unlike the Devils' Eastern Conference opponents.

Hopefully, the Devils will be coming back home with six more points under their belt!

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