Devils chasing Buffalo for eighth
Sunday, 03.13.2011 / 11:02 AM
/ News
By Eric Marin
Print
The Rangers' shootout win in San Jose Saturday night means the Devils are chasing Buffalo for the final playoff spot in the East.
The victory moved the Rangers into sole possession of seventh with 76 points. The Sabres, who lost in Toronto on Saturday, sit in eighth with 74.
The Devils (32-32-4, 68 pts) helped their cause on Saturday. Anssi Salmela's overtime goal secured a 3-2 win over the visiting Islanders and moved them within six points of Buffalo with 14 games to go. It also got them to the .500 mark for the first time this season.
As it stands Sunday morning, the Devils have three teams to climb over: Carolina (72), which is two points out, and Toronto and Atlanta (70), which are both four points out. New Jersey has one game in hand on all three.
Just eight points separate seventh from 12th, with six teams in the running for the last two postseason slots.
Buffalo hosts Ottawa on Sunday, meaning the Devils would also have a game in hand on the Sabres by the time Atlanta visits Prudential Center on Tuesday. The Sabres host Carolina that same night.
The Maple Leafs will be looking to get within two points of eighth when they host the Lightning on Monday.
The victory moved the Rangers into sole possession of seventh with 76 points. The Sabres, who lost in Toronto on Saturday, sit in eighth with 74.
The Devils (32-32-4, 68 pts) helped their cause on Saturday. Anssi Salmela's overtime goal secured a 3-2 win over the visiting Islanders and moved them within six points of Buffalo with 14 games to go. It also got them to the .500 mark for the first time this season.
As it stands Sunday morning, the Devils have three teams to climb over: Carolina (72), which is two points out, and Toronto and Atlanta (70), which are both four points out. New Jersey has one game in hand on all three.
Just eight points separate seventh from 12th, with six teams in the running for the last two postseason slots.
Buffalo hosts Ottawa on Sunday, meaning the Devils would also have a game in hand on the Sabres by the time Atlanta visits Prudential Center on Tuesday. The Sabres host Carolina that same night.
The Maple Leafs will be looking to get within two points of eighth when they host the Lightning on Monday.
