NEWARK -- The Devils aren't going to make or miss the playoffs with a win or loss on Thursday against the Washington Capitals.
But with the tight standings in the middle and bottom of the Eastern Conference, Thursday's result would go a long way into what the Devils will be looking at entering the All-Star break.
"It's big for the confidence and just being able to look at the standings and say, 'Hey, we're just two or three points out of a playoff spot,'" forward Kyle Palmieri said. "As opposed to looking at it, even though we might be five or six out, you're at the bottom and you know there's so many more teams to jump.