NHL

GM says coach isn’t Devils’ problem

ST. LOUIS — Save the axe for the turkey. With Lou Lamoriello’s ominous 20-game Devils evaluation looming, the GM has absolved John MacLean and his staff.

“There is no problem with the coaching,” Lamoriello told The Post. “Right now, what has to happen is our best players have to be our best players. Not one, one night, or two another. And our role players can’t get out of what their responsibilities are. They can’t try to do too much.

“It’s the old orchestra theory. The violinists have to play the violin, the drummers have to drum. But they have to be at their best or else the music isn’t any good.”

The Devils continue sounding sour notes, falling to 5-12-2 after a 3-1 loss in Toronto Thursday. They reach the 20-game point here tonight when the face the impressive Blues.

Lamoriello evaluates the season in 10-game segments and gives a closer examination at 20-game intervals. The Devils haven’t started this badly since 1984-85, when they were also 5-12-2, en route to a 54-point season.

The review is standard procedure, made more urgent because of their plight under their rookie coach.

“It’s nothing new,” Lamoriello said. “You go through the whole process. We’re not looking for anything other than trends — consistency, the players’ performance on a game-by-game basis. We go through the power play, all the facets of the game.

“We go in 10-game segments and do a little more at 20 games. We take an overall look at everything. It has nothing to do with the record. We don’t get impatient. We look at everything in an overview.”

Lamoriello will take into account the Devils’ plague of injuries. Martin Brodeur rejoined that list Thursday, removing himself from the game after reinjuring his right elbow. Brodeur returned to New Jersey to consult the surgeon who repaired his left elbow two seasons ago, when he missed 50 games. Mike McKenna was recalled from Albany on an emergency basis.

In addition, the Devils are without captain Jamie Langenbrunner, star left wing Zach Parise, defensemen Bryce Salvador, Mark Fraser and Anssi Salmela and center Jacob Josefson.

The Devils have not been the attacking, forcing team they are supposed to be under MacLean. They play it safe, which it isn’t.

Their players’ meeting after Thursday’s loss is supposed to prompt a better attack, but saying isn’t doing, and they have run out of time for words. They will have to go 40-23 the rest of the way to reach 92 points, which may be enough to make the playoffs.

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The Devils return home to face the Capitals Monday, and Brent Sutter makes his first return to Newark behind the Flames’ bench Wednesday. The Devils visit the Islanders Friday afternoon and play host to the Flyers next Saturday afternoon.

mark.everson@nypost.com