The New Jersey Devils slim playoff hopes took another big hit Friday night as New Jersey lost to the Washington Capitals, 3-0. Following a stretch where New Jersey went 23-3-2, the Devils lost back-to-back games Thursday (Ottawa) and Friday. The team sits six points behind Buffalo for the final playoff spot, but has three teams in front of them and only 11 games to play.

Martin Brodeur stopped just nine shots for the Devils, who have dropped two straight for the first time since losing their first four games to start the new year.

"Defensively we handled their big players pretty good," said Brodeur. "They didn't get many chances out there, but they made the most of them."

The Devils understand the difficult position they are now in.

"We have 11 games left and we probably have to win 10 of them," Brian Rolston said. "It's not the end of the world. But we have to win 10 games. That's 90 [points]," Roltson said. "That's what we have to shoot for."