Sunday’s intense battle with the Rangers had the look and feel of a potential first-round playoff game, but if the Devils have their way, the cross-Hudson battle may be put off until later.
The Devils, currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, are two points shy of the No. 5 Flyers and have shown no signs of slowing in this late-season surge that’s only made first-round schedules murky going into the final week.
If the season ended today, the Devils would face the No. 3 Rangers in the first round, but if the Devils finish fifth, they will likely draw No. 4 Buffalo.
The Devils have won seven straight and will face the Flyers in consecutive games following tonight’s tilt with the No. 2 Hurricanes.
At the front of their attack, the Devils’ Scott Gomez was named the NHL Offensive Player of the Week yesterday after scoring four goals and eight points in three games. Gomez, with 31 goals and 77 points, is second on the team behind Brian Gionta’s 44 goals and 79 points.
Gionta, who has scored eight goals in the last 11 games, is two goals shy of matching the franchise single-season record of 46 goals set by Pat Verbeek in 1988-89.