Two Struggling Squads Faceoff in the Battle of the Hudson, Duchene Makes His Mark, The Headshot Debate

The Devils have lost two games in a row and are just 2-5-1 in their last 8. The Rangers are winless in three.

Something's got to give.

Tonight's contest at "The Rock" in Newark is a big game for both the Devils and the Rangers. The Devils - who lost their last game 2-0 to the lowly Oilers - have seen the Penguins fly past them in the standings to lay their hands on the top spot in the Atlantic Division, while the Rangers are simply looking for a way to close the three-point gap that separates them from the eighth place Bruins.

The Devils have surrendered 21 goals over their last five games, which won't make Head Coach Jacques Lemaire happy. The Devils need to get back to what makes them such a formidable opponent - stingy team defense, good neutral zone pressure, tenacious back checking, capitalizing on their opponents' mistakes, and timely scoring.

For the Rangers, the answers are far less easy to come by. While Olympians Ryan Callahan and Chris Drury are playing inarguably their best hockey of the season, Marian Gaborik - I'd call him the straw that stirs the drink offensively for the Rangers, but it might be more realistic to say he's the not just the straw, but also the cup that holds the drink, the hand that pours the drink...you get the picture - is struggling due to a leg injury. Rumor is it's his infamous groin (insert phony "groin" joke here).

If the Rangers are to find a way into the spring dance, it'll take more than just superb play from Henrik Lundqvist. Gaborik needs to get healthy, the secondary scorers need to do their job, and the defense needs to find some consistency...

It's often the case for many NHL rookies to slow down as the season progresses. See: Tavares, John; van Riemsdyk, James; Del Zotto, Michael. It's even more likely when that rookie is jumping directly into the "Big Show" right after being drafted.

But, this hasn't been the story for the second overall selection in the 2009 NHL Draft. While Matt Duchene's effort has been pretty even-keel all season long in Colorado, his offensive production has increased dramatically. After starting the season with two goals and seven points in his first 21 games, Duchene currently sits with 23 goals and 47 points through 66 games.

He has 11 more points and four more goals than any other NHL rookie, and is also tied with Buffalo's first-year defenseman Tyler Myers for the rookie-lead in helpers.

Duchene's quickness, hands, and above all, hockey sense, have allowed him to quickly learn the tricks of the trade of scoring at the NHL level. He consistently goes to the net - that's where nearly all his goals have been scored - and makes those around him better.

Just ask the newly acquired Peter Mueller. The 21-year old ex-Coyote has notched two goals and six points in his first four games since coming to Colorado from Phoenix. Mueller has lined up with Duchene at even strength, and has also played the point on the first unit power play (which also includes Duchene).

Joe Sacco has certainly found something special in this young dynamic duo...

I was planning on ranting yesterday about the whole "Headshot Debate," but then I read Greg Wyshynski's (Puck Daddy's) response to a truly hilarious and idiotic rant on the subject of headshots by NESN's Jack Edwards (if you've watched a single Bruins broadcast you know Edwards is both a homer and, well, kind of an idiot. Good thing he has Andy Brickley - one of the best color guys in the league - to even things out).

Wyshynski echoes my exact feelings on the issue:

"I had more than a few battles Monday: on the blog, on the radio, and especially on Twitter. To restate the thesis: I'm in favor of a (clearly defined) ban on blindside hits, getting the Cooke hit and the Richards hit (which I'll continue to defend) out of the game. Perhaps even as the first step to something larger.

I'm not in favor of banning all contact with the shoulder to the head on hits, because it would penalize what are essentially good hockey plays (Doug Weight's hit on Brandon Sutter, close to the blindside but just a nasty open-ice hit) or the types of collisions that make hockey more entertaining for me ([Alex] Ovechkin's hit on [Jaromir] Jagr in Vancouver, which by the letter of the IIHF law was a head shot and should have been penalized)."

Banning all hits to the head is a slippery, slippery slope. Making the game safer is important, but penalizing all hits to the head in such a fast-paced, quick-moving sport is going over the top...