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A couple New Jersey Devils notes on this off-day:
1) There is currently a fun four-team battle between Philadelphia, Columbus, New Jersey and Florida for the final three playoff spots (one divisional and two wild card) in the Eastern Conference.
In a recent hotstove I predicted the Devils would be the odd team out when all is said and done, and I took some heat for that, so allow me to explain myself a little bit.
First and foremost, they have a very tough schedule. They play a lot of quality teams down the stretch and, of the group they're competing with, their opponents pick up the most points per game.
Their 'easy games' come against divisional opponents like the Hurricanes, Islanders and Rangers, who would surely love to play spoiler, while the Panthers and Blue Jackets, in particular, have softer schedules and get to beat up on teams like Ottawa, Buffalo, Arizona and Vancouver.
The Devils also just aren't playing that great right now. They've been out-chanced at 5v5 in six of the last seven and are currently relying on a backup, whose save percentage is still well below league average despite riding a remarkable hot streak, to win them games.
I'm not at all suggesting they *can't* make the playoffs. They are right in the thick of things and it's within the realm of possibility they finish higher than any of their competitors.
All I'm saying is a tough schedule – coupled with Cory Schneider's struggles – could make life difficult and cost them a spot. For Taylor Hall's sake, I hope that doesn't happen.
2) If the Devils are going to get in, they need guys like Michael Grabner to step up and provide secondary scoring.
The good news is he's finally showing signs he may be ready to do that.
Grabner has registered at least two 5v5 chances in three of the last four games and hit 3+ twice in that span. Since the turn of the calendar, this is only the second time Grabner has recorded 3+ chances twice in a four-game window.
The Devils are still in desperate need of secondary scoring, especially when they stack Kyle Palmieri on the top line, so it's encouraging he appears to be settling in.
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