Schwei's Devils Notes: Cammalleri Is Red Hot, And A Rare Win In Vancouver

By John Schweibacher
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The New Jersey Devils return home for Thanksgiving this week after going 1-2 on their Western Canadian road trip, salvaging the final game with a 3-2 win in Vancouver Sunday night.

The Devils' victory over the Canucks was just their second in their last eight games in Vancouver and their first since January 13, 2009, improving New Jersey's overall record there to 7-19-3. The Devils first-ever win on the road against the Canucks came exactly 30 years to the date of Sunday night's victory.

Here are the seven New Jersey wins at Vancouver:

· 11/22/15: NJD 3 at Van 2 -- Cammalleri goal, 2 assists
· 1/13/09: NJD 5 at Van 3 -- Zajac gw goal, assist
· 3/15/99: NJD 2 at Van 1 -- Brodeur 25 saves
· 12/18/96: NJD 2 at Van 1 -- Devils 8 shots allowed
· 1/30/96: NJD 3 at Van 2 (OT) -- Thomas overtime goal
· 1/30/87: NJD 4 at Van 3 -- Loiselle game-winning goal
· 11/22/85: NJD 6 at Van 5 -- Lorimer 2 goals

Mike Cammalleri had a goal and two assists in the win over Vancouver, his fourth three-point game of the season. Cammalleri, who leads the Devils with seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points, is tied for the most games with three-or-more points in the NHL this season:

· Mike Cammalleri, NJD: 4
· Mats Zuccarello, NYR: 4
· Taylor Hall, Edm: 4

Despite the win, New Jersey's all-time road record in Vancouver remains the club's worst against any current NHL opponent.

Devils' Lowest Points Percentage Vs. Current Road Opponents:  

· At Vancouver: .293
· At Calgary: .357
· At NY Islanders: .378
· At Washington: .414
· At NY Rangers: .439
· At Philadelphia: .468

New Jersey lost consecutive games for the first time since they began the season 0-3-1, losing 5-1 to the Edmonton Oilers Friday night.

The loss came in the Devils' final visit to Rexall Place, as the Oilers plan to move into their new arena next season. New Jersey went 12-11-6 overall in their 29 games in the Oilers' building.

The Devils went 7-2-2 in their last 11 trips to Rexall Place. Friday night's loss was their first there in regulation since a 2-0 defeat on March 7, 2010, and just their second since the 1995-96 season.

The 5-1 defeat was New Jersey's third worst in terms of goal differential on the road against Edmonton. The Devils' most lopsided losses to the Oilers came in their first two visits to what was then known as Northlands Coliseum: a 10-4 defeat on December 17, 1982 and the infamous 13-4 drubbing the following season on November 19, 1983. After that game, Wayne Gretzky -- who had a combined four goals and eight assists in those two games -- referred to the Devils as a "Mickey Mouse operation."

New Jersey began its Western Canadian trip last Tuesday night with a 3-2 loss against the Calgary Flames.

The Devils are now winless in their last five games in Calgary and are just 6-14-8 overall on the road against the Flames.

Here are the six New Jersey wins at Calgary:

· 12/23/07: NJD 1 at Cgy 0 (OT) -- Elias overtime goal
· 3/19/01: NJD 4 at Cgy 2 -- Gomez 2 goals
· 12/16/96: NJD 5 at Cgy 0 -- Dunham 28 saves
· 10/30/91: NJD 5 at Cgy 2 -- Stevens gw goal & assist
· 2/1/88: NJD 5 at Cgy 4 -- Johnson 2 goals
· 11/27/82: NJD 4 at Cgy 3 -- Tambellini gw goal & assist

Plus: Patrik Elias -- New Jersey's all-time leading scorer practiced for the first time last week and is on the verge of returning to the lineup after missing training camp and the first two months of the season with a right knee injury.

Minus: Canada Dry -- By going 1-2 on their road trip, the Devils dropped to 4-12-3 in the Western Canadian cities (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg) since 2011-12.