Devils vs. Sabres Preview: Buck the Trend

The New Jersey Devils need to buck their recent trends and put together a 3-game winning streak to move 3 points within a playoff spot.

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The New Jersey Devils' playoff hopes are still slim. But with regulation losses from the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings last night, the Devils' playoff odds can jump to 23.6 percent with a win. That's not insignificant, so needless to say, this is a big game for the Devils. Here are three things to watch. 

Take Advantage of Sabres' 1st-Period Woes

Two wins in a row and playing against a team they should grab two points against. What could go wrong? As we've seen plenty of times this season, the Devils have missed ample opportunities to gain ground in the standings against lesser competition. 

In many of these losses to basement dwellers, the Devils have fallen behind on the scoreboard early. Against the Ottawa Senators, they went down 1-0 and had to work their way back into the game. They showed signs of life briefly before the Senators scored four unanswered to win the game. 

Against the Arizona Coyotes a couple of weeks ago, the Devils fell behind 3-0 because of some sloppy play and puck management that hung out Kaapo Kähkönen to dry. Name a loss to a team below them in the standings, and they probably had a similar game summary. 

Tonight might be a chance to reverse that trend, though. The Sabres have been one of the worst first-period teams in the NHL, allowing 87 goals in the opening frame. That ties them with the Chicago Blackhawks for most in the NHL. Yes, those Blackhawks who are firmly entrenched in the Macklin Celebrini sweepstakes. 

Contrary to what it may feel like, the Devils have only given up 65 goals in the first period this season. Their early starts stem more from not being able to score rather than getting scored on. A fast start could go a long way tonight, and as we'll see in the next section, a leaky Sabres defense could open the door for the Devils to light the lamp early. 

Sabres Bleeding Shots & Chances at 5-on-5