5 New Jersey Devils Players Fighting For Playoff Minutes

New Jersey Devils right wing Nathan Bastian (14) and left wing Miles Wood (44) and defenseman Ryan Graves (33) and center Michael McLeod (20) celebrates a goal scored by Wood against the Dallas Stars during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
New Jersey Devils right wing Nathan Bastian (14) and left wing Miles Wood (44) and defenseman Ryan Graves (33) and center Michael McLeod (20) celebrates a goal scored by Wood against the Dallas Stars during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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New Jersey Devils center Yegor Sharangovich (17): Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

4. Yegor Sharangovich

Yegor Sharangovich hasn’t been given a chance since the Devils added Timo Meier to the lineup. He’s been a daily healthy scratch, and now with Curtis Lazar on the roster, it looks like Sharangovich will have a harder chance to make it into the top or bottom six. He’s been all over the lineup all season, and now he’s not even allowed in the lineup.

It’ll be hard to prove he deserves a spot without getting a chance to prove himself, but we expect Sharangovich to find his way back into the lineup. At some point, Ruff will try everyone to see who fits best in the postseason.

Sharangovich has been very inconsistent offensively this season. He does have 27 points, which is eighth on the team. While we expect more from Sharangovich, he’s still doing better than others on the team. While +/- is a pointless stat, it is strange to see Shargo as the only lineup regular with a minus (he’s a -6 on the year).

The one thing going Sharangovich’s way is his penalty killing. Since January 20th, Sharangovich has been on the ice for one shorthanded goal and one power-play goal against. In 24 PK minutes, he’s been near perfect. That in of itself might get him back into the lineup.