Devils, Flames need to string wins to get inside playoff bubble
The New Jersey Devils open a four-game road trip against the Calgary Flames on Monday and are well aware they are running out of time to turn the corner.
New Jersey is coming off a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, which snapped a two-game winning streak, the only victories in a seven-game stretch (2-5-0).
A trip that also includes clashes with the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken is a pivotal journey during which the Devils cannot continue to flounder.
"There's a lot of stuff we have to clean up," forward Timo Meier said. "It's frustrating. It's really important with this road trip coming up and this stretch before the Olympic break to start collecting some points. It's tight but every point matters. We've got to figure it out quick and do it on the road."
Heading into this crucial stretch, the Devils - who have nine games before the Olympic break - lead only the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference standings,
New Jersey, thanks in large part to its middling 12-13-0 road record, is seven points outside of a playoff position.
All is definitely not lost for the club that opened the season winning eight of nine games and 13 of its first 18 outings. But the problems that have plagued the club, which has netted only eight victories in its last 24 games, can not continue.
"We're doing it to ourselves, I feel like," goaltender Jacob Markstrom said. "It's a tough way to lose when you feel like we're doing the right things, then mistakes, and it's in the back of our net."
The Flames are in a similar situation themselves, but feeling more positive vibes. Thanks to a solid 4-2 home win over the New York Islanders on Saturday, Calgary has won two straight and three of four.
Calgary started a stretch of five straight home games and eight of nine in the Stampede City before the break by staking itself a four-goal lead in a game that never became in doubt over the final 30 minutes, even while the Islanders pulled within a pair.
"We again played Flames' hockey where we were opportunistic on our chances," goaltender Dustin Wolf said after a 28-save performance. "We're committed to blocking shots. There were several huge blocks throughout the game, especially in the third. That's exactly how we play hockey and that's how we win hockey games. It's awesome to see that from my point of view."
Although the Flames have been at or near the bottom of the league standings all season, they are actually only five points outside a playoff position.
That said, no team is dealing with more trade rumors about possible departures pending than Calgary, and that kicked off with defenseman Rasmus Andersson - a pending unrestricted free agent - being dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.
Calgary received veteran defenseman Zach Whitecloud, a 2027 first-round pick, a conditional second-round pick (which will become another first rounder if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup this season) as well as prospect Abram Wiebe, a 2022 seventh-round pick.
The Flames, who are retaining half of Andersson's salary the rest of the season, already own Vegas' 2026 first-round pick in the deal that sent Noah Hanifin to the desert a couple of seasons ago.