This is it folks! Win tonight and we are back! Well maybe not, but lose tonight and it's kind of over.
The Devils need to prove something to the fans, management and the league here. Beat a good metro team, beat Carolina(which never happens), streak a few W's together and climb back into this race. New Jersey sits at just 50pts with 35 games remaining. It will take approximately 97-98 points to get the final wild card spot. A minimum of 47 of the final 70 points to make the playoffs is what it will take in a season where expectations weren't if, but when the Devils would play playoff hockey.
Dougie Hamilton will draw in yet again, leaving Simon Nemec as the likely casualty. Ondrej Palat is a game time decision with an illness, can the Devils dress seven D? Not sure it makes sense here but I'm not against it.
Jesper Bratt will play in his 600th NHL contest tonight at The Rock, hopefully it goes better than Brendan Dillon's 1,000th.
Can the Devils get going in the right direction? Or will this be yet another demoralizing L for NJ?