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Devils need to be ready for Bruins, Gelinas tearing up AHL, other notes

February 29, 2012, 10:04 AM ET [14 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
After three straight losses, the Devils fell from 4th in the Eastern Conference to 7th in the Conference. With that said, they have a golden opportunity to rise back up in the standings tomorrow when they take on the Boston Bruins. Here are some notes on that, Eric Gelinas' great season in Albany and more.

- Though the Devils have lost three straight games and fallen three spots in the standings, they can just as easily pass the teams that passed them - Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ottawa - with a couple wins of their own. The difference between 7th place, and facing the Bruins in the 1st round of the playoffs, and 4th place, having home ice for at least one playoff round, is only three points. Depending on what other teams do the Devils could be as high as 5th in the conference with a win. That's why tomorrow's game against the Bruins means so much.

With that said, the Bruins lost last night against the Ottawa Senators so you can bet they'll be hungry for a win tomorrow. New Jersey will certainly need to bring their 'A' game and most importantly: shoot the puck.

- Devils prospect Eric Gelinas, who is in his first season of professional hockey, leads the AHL in goals by defenseman with 12. He's been playing fantastic hockey all season long, according to reports, and his season really reminds me of what Adam Henrique did in Albany last year. Obviously they're different positions but you get my point. Considering what Gelinas has done this year at both ends of the rink I think he has passed Alexander Urbom as the best Devils defensive prospect in Albany.

- It was nice to see Lou Lamoriello remain loyal to Eric Boulton and keep him with the Devils after he cleared waivers on Monday. Lamoriello went out and offered him a two-year contract knowing full well what Boulton is capable of. Boulton has done what he was signed to do and it's never nice to spend three quarters of your season playing your ass off for a team only to be sent to the AHL for the final stretch. Whether he plays a lot down the stretch or is just used in rivalry games remains to be seen, but I'm happy he has been given the opportunity to stay with the big club.

- Marek Zidlicky will have his first full practice with the Devils today. Those hacking him for not producing in his first two games should probably take in the fact that he didn't practice with New Jersey before any of the games. You can't be traded to a team with a completely different system and produce at a high level right away. Just ask Ilya Kovalchuk.

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