The New Jersey Devils enter tonight's game against the Detroit Red Wings desperately looking for a win.
It won't be an easy task, as the Red Wings come in as the number one team in the Western Conference. Detroit also carries a 7-3-1 road record into tonight's game.
The Devils, who lost eight of their last 11 games, need to win games. New Jersey, who has made the postseason for 13 straight seasons, are dangerously close to falling out of the playoff race.
Center Jason Arnott explained the need to win now.
"We're getting further and further away from that No. 8 spot," Arnott said to Rich Chere of The Star-Ledger. "It's getting nearly impossible. If we don't put a string of wins together by Christmas time we're going to find ourselves on a long road."
The Devils lost a critical two points last night when they lost to the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, at Scotiabank Place. Down by one in the third period, the Devils appeared to tie the game when the puck deflected off the skate of David Clarkson and into the back of the net. Referee Bill Watson ruled that Clarkson kicked the pucked into the net, and Toronto upheld the ruling. That call overturned what would have been a game-tying goal.
One positive in a sea of negatives is the Devils' powerplay. After going 1-for-43 on the road, the Devils' were 5-for-8 in their final three road games. It's an encouraging and frustrating sign.
"That's what's frustrating about it," MacLean said to Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record. "You get one aspect going. The power play has been scoring and five-on-five we haven't been where we needed to be."
While no player believes tonight is a must-win, Dainius Zubrus stressed how every game is critical.
"Which games are not critical now, if you think about it?" asked Dainius Zubrus. "You can't go into a game thinking if we're off, maybe tomorrow we'll win. The hole we're in right now, it's tough."