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3 New Jersey Devils Players That Will Step Up In Stanley Cup Playoffs

By Vincent Parise |
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 12: Vitek Vanecek #41 of the New Jersey Devils stands in front of his net during the third period at Prudential Center on March 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 12: Vitek Vanecek #41 of the New Jersey Devils stands in front of his net during the third period at Prudential Center on March 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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The New Jersey Devils are going to begin a playoff journey on Tuesday night when their series gets started against the New York Rangers.

This is one of the more anticipated series of the playoffs because two historic rivals are going head to head in round number one.

A lot is being made about the fact that the top players of the New Jersey Devils don’t have much playoff experience. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt haven’t played in that many playoff games between the three of them.

However, the playoff experience factor is a bit overblown in addition to the fact that the Devils do have more playoff experience than people give them credit for.

The players on the team that do have playoff experience just earned it in other uniforms but it is still playoff experience nonetheless. These are the three players that are going to use their past experiences to help the team the most once the puck drops on the second season:

Vitek Vanecek. 41. player. 85. . G. New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils will need good goaltending in the playoffs this year.

The New Jersey Devils are going to rely hard on Vitek Vanecek once the playoffs roll around. He has been very good this year and has given them a chance all season long. In every game that he has started, the team has had an opportunity to win.

Getting good goaltending is part of the reason that this team has 49 more points than they did last year which is the best turnaround in NHL history.

Vanecek has been a part of playoff teams with the Washington Capitals before and now he is ready to take on a bigger role with these New Jersey Devils. As long as the team plays well in front of him, he can really help them take a big step.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Erik Haula. 56. player. 85. . FWD. New Jersey Devils

Erik Haula can help this New Jersey Devils team a lot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Erik Haula has been a big part of some good playoff teams a lot in his NHL career. He has been a depth forward that made an impact almost everywhere he has gone and the Devils are no different. Now that it is playoff time, he is going to be able to make some big moves.

Haula can play center or wing which adds to his versatility in addition to the ability to play on any line. If they want him on a scoring line with Jack Hughes, he can handle it. If they want him in a checking role, he can do that very well too.

The best place for him is probably on the third line where he can do a little bit of everything. Having a guy like that will really make this team go once the playoffs begin.

Haula has had better offensive seasons than this first one with the New Jersey Devils but he still has the chance to score that one big playoff goal that gets his team to where they need to be. Expect the unexpected when it comes to Erik Haula in the postseason.

(Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images) /

player. 85. . LW. New Jersey Devils. Ondrej Palat. 18

The New Jersey Devils are a team that needs Ondrej Palat right now.

Ondrej Palat was brought in right after the New Jersey Devils missed out on Johnny Gaudreau. Well, Palat isn’t as good of a player as Gaudreau but he is better in the playoffs which is something that the latter won’t be participating in this year.

Landing Palat wasn’t so he can score 40 goals. It was so he can come up with big moments when the lights are the brightest. He has done that time after time with the Tampa Bay Lightning which is why he has won the Stanley Cup twice. He has also been in the final a total of four times.

The hope is that Palat brings some of that to the Devils once the postseason begins. He may not score at the rate that Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier score but he can help them be a lot more clutch. His experience is second to none when it comes to most players in the league.

Of all the players named here, in addition to the stars, nobody is as important as Ondrej Palat going into the postseason. Don’t be surprised one bit if he opens the first game with some kind of impactful play as it is the time of year when he raises his game.

Related Story. Final regular-season grades for the Devils. light

We can only hope that he is a big piece to a playoff victory over the biggest rivals that New Jersey has.

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