(SportsNetwork.com) - The New Jersey Devils close out a three-game tour of California on Monday night and they'll try to post a winning record on the swing in a clash with the San Jose Sharks.
The Devils defeated the Los Angeles Kings to kick off the trip, but were then routed 5-1 by the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. New Jersey lost for the third time in its past four games and got a big scare when No. 1 netminder Cory Schneider exited after the second period with an upper-body injury.
Schneider made 14 saves, but appeared shaken up after stopping a shot by Matt Beleskey.
"He got hit with a shot in the first period," Devils general manager and current coach Lou Lamoriello said of Schneider after the game. "He's feeling better right now, but he couldn't go back in."
The good news for the Devils is that Schneider is expected to start tonight, barring any setbacks.
"I had (Saturday) off, felt OK today and should be good to go. So, it's more just I got my bell rung a bit and they wanted to be careful. So, fortunately, it wasn't any more than that," Schneider told New Jersey's website after practice on Sunday.
"I just took it right off the side of the head there, right off the side of the head and ear. Usually, I can pretty much shake them, but as the period went on I started feeling worse, just the pressure and some symptoms, but as a precaution they decided to hold me out."
Keith Kinkaid allowed four goals on 25 shots in relief, while Martin Havlat had a goal.
Though Schneider expects to play tonight, forwards Jaromir Jagr and Tuomo Ruutu remain in New Jersey as they deal with the flu.
The Sharks have split the first two of a seven-game homestand, defeating Toronto on Thursday before suffering a 4-3 overtime setback to Calgary on Saturday.
The Flames' Sean Monahan scored the winner 24 seconds into OT, putting home a rebound past Antti Niemi.
Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Melker Karlsson all lit the lamp in the second period to erase an early deficit and Niemi stopped 19 shots for the Sharks, who had won two straight and four of six.
"We got what we deserved," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said of the loss. "We're probably fortunate we got (a point). The start was unacceptable. There are nights where we don't execute. Sometimes it's half the team. Tonight it was the whole team."
San Jose has won four in a row over New Jersey, a run it extended with a 4-2 road victory on Oct. 18. Couture and Joe Pavelski both had a goal and two assists, while Niemi had 35 saves.
Niemi is 4-1-0 lifetime versus the Devils with a 1.76 goals against average and .931 save percentage in five career matchups with the Devils.
Schneider had 29 saves in the loss, falling to 3-5-1 versus the Sharks with a 3.55 GAA and .896 save percentage.
The Sharks have won three of their past four at home versus the Devils.
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