NHL Playoffs: How Do the New Jersey Devils Shape Up?

As the final weeks of the regular season wind down, it is all but certain the New Jersey Devils will once again be in contention for Lord Stanley's Cup. This will be the 13th straight playoff appearance for the Devils, and their 20th in the last 22 seasons.

People expect this team to win, and due to the combination of young and old talent, this team is looking to make a statement.

The Devils own an offense good enough for ninth in the league. Atop the scoring on the team is a young American and a veteran Czech.

Patrik Elias has found new life this year. The once proud 96-point winger struggled last season, but now sits 10th in total points. He is a proven playoff performer and will be one of the go-to players down the stretch for the Devils.

Zach Parise, the 24-year-old from the University of North Dakota has blossomed into a legitimate offensive superstar in just his fourth NHL season.

Although drafted as a playmaker, he has emerged as a lethal sniper, and now sits second overall in the NHL in goals. He poses a danger to the opposing team every time he is on the ice.

Pehaps the most underrated player in the Devils’ offense is Travis Zajac, another product of North Dakota.  Zajac recorded his first career 20-goal season, but he really shines in his playmaking ability.

He is a very smart player with great skill, and is playing with a lot of confidence.  This year's playoffs may be his coming out party as he is primed for a strong postseason.

In terms of depth, the Devils’ forwards are as strong as any other team in the Eastern Conference. They have three lines capable of scoring regularly, and each line is at the very worst average defensively.

Veterans like John Madden, Bobby Holik, and Brendan Shanahan all have loads of playoff experience. And while the Devils had injury problems at the beginning of the year, they have proven that they can play well as a unit even if a few players are missing.

The defense is what many people consider this team’s main weakness. They are led by Paul Martin, who has truly emerged as an elite defensive defensemen.

Martin logs a lot of ice time and is on the ice for all situations. His main responsibility is shutting down opponents’ top players, yet he has an impressive amount of points for a defensive defenseman. He could prove to be one of the Devils’ biggest keys to success this postseason.

Outside of Martin, the Devils have a solid, yet unspectacular group of supporting defensemen. Bryce Salvador, Johnny Oduya, Colin White, and Niclas Havelid are all competent defenders, yet their lack of an impact defenseman may prove to be their biggest weakness.

Their saving grace is legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur, who is able to cover for nearly any lapse that defenders may make. After a historic season seeing Brodeur become the winningest goalie in NHL history, he would like to put a punctuation mark on the record books with his fourth championship.

There are plenty of teams that could be potential first round opponents for the Devils.  The Devils have dominated the Montreal Canadiens over the last decade and would love to play them in the first round. Brodeur always plays well in his hometown.

The Devils would also not mind playing the New York Rangers in the first round. When these teams met in the first round last year, it was a cat and mouse game where the team who made the first mistake would usually lose.

The Devils’ potent offense combined with a well-rested Brodeur provide a lot more room for error, and they would love to avenge their embarrassing series last spring.

Perhaps the most unfavorable matchup would be against the Carolina Hurricanes. For some reason, netminder Cam Ward really elevates his game whenever he plays the Devils. The ‘Canes just always seem to have the Devils’ number ever since they upset New Jersey in the first round of the 2002 playoffs.

Pittsburgh may also mean trouble. They have a lot of skill up front but their questionable defense may prove to be too big of a weakness for Sidney Crosby to overcome. The Devils’ flexibility is key in this matchup, as they would be equally comfortable playing a run-and-gun offense or smothering team defense.

Overall, this Devils team is the strongest they've had since they won it all in 2003. The key to their success is a consistent offense combined with team defense.

This team could go toe-to-toe with any team in the Eastern Conference and live to tell about it. Over a seven game series, the Devils don't really fear anyone, and once again it looks like the rest of the league is going to fear New Jersey this postseason.