The New Jersey Devils are facing a challenging situation as they try to secure a playoff spot with only 16 games left in the season. Despite a recent big win against the Dallas Stars, some analysts like Colby Cohen and Tyler Yaremchuk believe that it might be too late for the Devils to make a successful playoff push.
Cohen pointed out the inexperience on the team’s blueline and the high-risk, high-reward style of play from young players, which makes it difficult for them to consistently compete against top teams. However, he acknowledged that having a reliable goaltender like Jake Allen or Kahkonen (from the San Jose trade) can boost confidence and reduce the margin for error.
Yaremchuk echoed Cohen’s sentiments, mentioning the tough competition in the playoff race, with several teams vying for the wild card spots. He highlighted the challenge of jumping multiple teams in the standings with limited games remaining, especially considering the number of inter-conference and inter-division games that could result in teams picking up points regularly.
Both analysts emphasized the importance of teams constantly earning points in today’s NHL, making it challenging for teams like the Devils to make up ground quickly. Even a strong finish to the season might not be enough if other teams continue to collect points consistently.
In summary, while the Devils are putting in effort and have improved goaltending, the odds of them making the playoffs seem slim due to the competitive nature of the league and the limited number of games remaining.
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