The race for the Metropolitan Division title has come down to game 82. The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are in action Thursday night, each with a chance to win one of the best divisions in all of sports.
The Devils will need a little help from the Florida Panthers, though. Currently sitting one point behind Carolina, the Devils need to tie them at 111 points, as they hold the tiebreaker with more regulation wins. Simply put, if the Devils win their game in Washington and the Hurricanes lose in any fashion, the Devils win the Metropolitan Division. Some say the Devils shouldn’t want the division title to secure a first-round matchup with the New York Rangers, but the Devils should shoot for the division title. Here’s why.
1. The Fans
When the team last made the playoffs in 2018, Devils fans filled the Prudential Center to the brim with red jerseys and rally towels. The passion and energy were electrifying. Five years later, that same feeling is finally back in anticipation of a memorable battle for the Stanley Cup.
Selling out for the 20th time this season on Tuesday night, Devils fans have long-awaited a special season like this. As the team has failed to make the playoffs nine of the last 10 seasons, their only appearance being an elimination in just five games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018.
One thing’s for sure: this loyal fanbase deserves to take in a similar atmosphere as they cherished five years ago. If the Devils don’t win the division, they will face the Rangers in Round 1. While there’s little concern about the matchup itself, the truth is, there could be a significant amount of blue that would flood the arena – and many fans will be priced out of a trip to the Rock for an experience they’ve salivated at the thought of for years.