Devils concerned with teams behind them
--As much fun as it would be to think about continuing to climb the Eastern Conference ladder, the Devils were more concerned about opening a cushion to guarantee a playoff. After all, Wednesday saw them the same number of points, six, out of first place and ninth place.
"We're not looking right now at climbing all the way up. We want to create some separation from the teams below us," said captain Zach Parise. "You can see we're starting to get some points in between, although we're not too far from Boston. We're right there."
Meanwhile, the club was enjoying the five straight wins since the All-Star break.
"We have been playing really well," said goalie Johan Hedberg. "I think we've been tightening up defensively. Our power play has been scoring. Our big guns are scoring. Everybody is contributing.
"Is there any change we made at the break? I don't really think so. We're getting it to work and the guys are excited. We expect to win. Hockey is very much a mental game. Confidence is a big part of it."
--Parise said he hoped former Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner would be cheered in his first game back in New Jersey since being traded to Dallas last season -- and he was.
"I think it will be cool for him," Parise, the captain since Langenbrunner left, said Wednesday. "He played here for a long time, was part of a lot of important teams here.
"I know when he was here, he was always excited to play against Dallas, so I'm sure he'll have the same feelings now playing against us."
Langenbrunner signed with the Blues as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason. There were some cheers when he was announced in the starting lineup. No boos.
--The Devils were convinced the referee made the right call in waving off the last-second tying goal by the Rangers Tuesday night, as Marian Gaborik was called for goalie interference after pushing Martin Brodeur into the net.
"I don't know how anyone could argue that," goalie Johan Hedberg said. "To see how upset (Rangers coach John Tortorella) is after the game, I think that's not being fair. (Gaborik) was driving to the net even before they shoot and he's pushing Marty in the net. Therefore, Marty has no chance to stop the second shot. I think the whistle probably was blown before the puck crosses the line. So, there's no doubt in my mind that was the right call."
Added Hedberg, who played Thursday night: "You can make the point and say that he gets pushed into the crease (by Anton Volchenkov), but he's a better player than that. He's one of the best skaters in the world, so for him to all of the sudden become that weak so (he) had to be falling over the goaltender, I don't think so. If he wants to stop, he can stop. I've seen him stop on a dime before."
--The Devils suffered their third loss in 12 shootouts this season and they are 12-4 in games decided in extra time.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's a tough one to lose but they are a really good team in the Western Conference. I thought we did pretty well against them." -- LW Zach Parise, after the shootout loss to the Blues.
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