Metropolitan Division Helps New Jersey Devils Playoff Chances

The New Jersey Devils did not have the start to the season they hoped for, but they are still somehow right in the middle of the playoff race. It’s not even December, so one would have to be devastatingly bad to be out of the conversation right now, but the Devils were mediocre at best to start the season.

Luckily, the Metropolitan Division is as competitive a division as any. Outside the first-place New York Rangers, who despite a loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night still have by far the best record, everyone in the division is within six points. The Devils are five points behind the Carolina Hurricanes with a game at hand, and they are in second place.

The Hurricanes haven’t even been that good, giving up too many goals in some games (including eight to the Lightning on just 15 shots). We expect the Canes to be in this spot at the end of the season, but this doesn’t seem like the same team that destroyed the Devils in the playoffs. If they are leakier than usual on the backend, it could get the Devils some points once they finally face off.

There are two teams currently in or right outside the playoffs that we expect to fall off. The Flyers have played two games than the Devils, and they’ve been playing way above their head. The losses are starting to pile in Philly, and we expect it to get worse when the talent level plays to those expectations.

The Washington Capitals are hard to quantify. They do have talent, but there seems to be a little too much magic in their wins this season. Putting up 22 points in 17 games shows staying power, but there was a reason the consensus was this team was missing the playoffs. It’s a hot streak that shouldn’t last. If it does, then that makes the path to the playoffs much harder for the Devils.

Just a week ago, we were hearing murmurs about Lou Lamoriello losing his job. Now, the Islanders are right outside the playoff bubble. This team will be middling, and we don’t think the Tyce Thompson trade is going to change anything.

With so many teams playing towards the middle, the Devils need to get more wins in their back pocket. It starts this week with games against the Flyers, Islanders, and Sharks. Before the season, the Devils would be favorites in all three. Right now, it’ll be close. Still, the Devils could make a jump prior to their Western Canada trip next week.

Thankfully, with these teams so close, the Devils are very much in this. It’s gone as bad as possible, but with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier back and Timo Meier practicing again, wins are on the horizon. They need those wins to come against those division opponents, preferably in regulation.