Rising Devils, slumping Sabres both behind in playoff chase

The New Jersey Devils hope to continue their postseason push while keeping the host Buffalo Sabres behind in the playoff race when the two teams meet on Friday.

The Devils are chasing both the Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card position. While only three points separate New Jersey (36-33-4, 76 points) and Buffalo (34-34-5, 73 points), the two clubs seem far apart in terms of recent form.

After picking up wins on the first two stops on their three-game road trip, the Devils are 4-1-0 in their last five games. Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs saw New Jersey score four unanswered goals after falling behind 3-2 early in the second period.

Toronto outshot New Jersey by a 45-25 margin, including a whopping 25-10 barrage in the first period. Jake Allen was often outstanding in stopping 42 of those 45 shots, as the goaltender earned his fourth win in six games in a Devils uniform.

“(Allen) kept us in the game, they were all over us in the first period for sure … He gives us the saves we need, gives us the momentum back in games,” Devils captain Nico Hischier said. “If you have a solid goalie in the net, that makes your work easier.”

The trade deadline acquisitions of Allen and new backup goalie Kaapo Kahkonen have stabilized New Jersey’s season-long problems in net. Allen has a 2.51 goalsagainst average and a .925 save percentage for New Jersey, while Kahkonen has a 2.17 GAA and a .934 save percentage in three games.

Timo Meier has carried the offense with 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) in his last 17 games.

New Jersey is 6-for-19 on power plays and a perfect 20-for-20 on penalty kills in its last six games. This suggests a big special teams advantage for the Devils on Friday, as the Sabres are 0-for-12 on power plays and only 12for-16 on the kill in their last five games.