The New Jersey Devils are closing out their worst decade as a franchise since moving to the Garden State. Still, there were a lot of really fun moments that we’ll cherish forever.
This decade has been something for the New Jersey Devils and it’s fans. It has maybe the most fun run to the Stanley Cup Finals in its history (beating both our rivals who were heavily favored, two overtime series winning goals), despite falling short at the end. They’ve seen three franchise players leave through trades, free agency and retirements. It was the end of the Lou Lamoriello era and we finally got ourselves some owners.
This decade sure was memorable, but not a lot of it is good memories. We’re going to try to focus on the positives of this decade. This was the decade of Twitter and Facebook groups where we all felt like a community. There were some moments where it seemed like we we’re all collectively screaming and cheering. There were happy times, and there were times where it seemed like we were all yelling at each other.
The moments that “defined” this decade is much different from the best moments. Ilya Kovalchuk leaving this franchise high and dry was a defining moment, and one that we all pretty much universally hated. This is looking at those moments that made you so happy you cried. This was about building hope in the moment no matter how it turned out.
There were some great moments throughout this decade, despite the history of this franchise being a lot better. There were major changes and an non-stop rebuild. But, there was greatness as well. These ten moments are ones we will never forget.
10. Win Atlantic Division On Last Day
On paper, this sounds like one of the most insane moments that should be way up the list. The Devils haven’t won the Metropolitan Division since this day. They won it thanks to a goal with three seconds left in the final game of the season, as they snuck by the Pittsburgh Penguins with no time left.
There are three main reasons why this moment falls to 10th on the list, the Devils might have still won the division if the game went to overtime, but they would have had a worse seed. They also lost in desperately disappointing fashion in the playoffs to the lower-seeded Philadelphia Flyers. Speaking of Flyers, their major showdown in a winner-take-all matchup with the New York Rangers widely overshadowed this game.
Oh, and the Devils won the game on an empty-net goal. How, you ask? The Buffalo Sabres were trying to get the same number-two seed in the playoffs the Devils were looking for. So, they pulled the goalie with 10 seconds left in the game and a faceoff in the offensive zone. Jamie Langenbrunner ended up getting the puck on his stick off a pass from Zach Parise, and he put it in the empty net.
This was the last moment of an era of dominating Devils hockey. In the next nine years, they won zero Metropolitan/Atlantic Division titles, made the playoffs two other times, and went through a pretty extensive rebuild. Still, the decade started with an iconic moment that the Devils may never see again.