3 Reasons New Jersey Devils Should Win Metropolitan Division

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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.

The New Jersey Devils banners. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. The Banner

Every time the Devils win the division, they put a banner up at the Prudential Center. This is less about the banner itself and more about what it represents. Following an embarrassing campaign, the 2022-23 Devils have shattered all expectations, securing the biggest turnaround season in NHL history with a win against the Caps on Thursday night.

That win would also give them the best season since the franchise moved to New Jersey in both wins and points. Jack Hughes surpassed Patrik Elias for the franchise’s single-season point record. The team enjoyed a league-high 13-game win streak in November. Vitek Vanecek became the only Devils goalie besides Martin Brodeur to post 30 wins in a season. Dougie Hamilton had the most goals of any Devils defenseman ever. The list goes on and on. There is so much to commemorate.

“This has been a historic season,” Devils fan Eddie Davenport said. “It would be special to have a banner up there to look at and remember all the memories from this season if we don’t go all the way.”

Whether the phenomenal regular season can translate to a deep playoff run will remain to be seen, but the first banner in the rafters since 2012 makes a statement that the New Jersey Devils are back on the map – solidifying that this is the team to beat.

New Jersey Devils (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. Home Ice

The Devils have already locked in the home advantage for Round 1, but winning the division would also secure home ice back at the Rock for Round 2. Aside from the fans, playing at home has strategic perks. The home team in the NHL gets to make the last line change before each faceoff, meaning they can strategically line match against their opponent – sending Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier over the boards tortures opponents. Having that opportunity four times in a series instead of three could be the difference between winning and losing.

Going into the season, anyone in the Devils organization, from staff to players to fans would have been more than happy playing for a playoff spot at this time of year. Instead, they’ve already punched their ticket to the postseason. They are seeking their tenth division title in franchise history.

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However, the Devils never won the Metropolitan Division. The league was realigned in 2013-14, and the Devils have been rebuilding for most of that time. Now, they can add home ice through the first two rounds. They also could get home ice in a potential Conference Final matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which is a huge possibility if the Leafs can get past the first round.

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