Devils getting coldArchived from 1997-98 season. | |
The New Jersey Devils are suddenly playing bad hockey. The team has maintained the overall best record all season, but four straight losses have allowed the Dallas Stars to catch up.
The Devils will win the Eastern Conference title, but could lose a possible home ice advantage to Dallas should the teams meet in the Stanley Cup Finals. Many of New Jersey's recent losses are against teams with losing records including Wednesday's 2-3 loss to NY Isles. "Games we're not supposed to lose we're losing now, but it's nothing alarming. It's more of a process of not being mentally ready for these games, and waiting for the playoffs to start." said Martin Brodeur. It might not be the time for the Devils to hit the panic button yet, but there is reaon for concern. Sometimes it is not so easy to get back in the groove at the playoffs if you are going in playing poorly. It might be better to go in the playoffs on a high note playing great hockey. "We want to play better, but it's not the end of the world that we lost tonight," Bobby Holik said Wednesday night. "We sometimes subconsciously want to get ready for the playoffs." |
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