The triskaidekaphobic Devils, who never have permitted a No. 13 jersey, tonight begin trying to extend their playoff-making streak, which stands at 12 straight seasons.
The superstitious might say: Good luck.
Unlike recent years, there are no Devils jumping up to predict a better campaign than they had last year, when they amassed 106 points despite losing goalie Martin Brodeur for 50 games.
The squad that opens the season tonight in Newark against the Flyers lost Brian Gionta, John Madden, Bobby Holik, Mike Rupp, hero goalie Scott Clemmensen, and Thursday, Brendan Shanahan. Patrik Elias is recovering from surgery. They added centers Rod Pelley and Rob Niedermayer, defenseman Cory Murphy and rookie wingers Niclas Bergfors, Matt Halischuk and ailing Ilkka Pikkarainen.
“Time will tell,” captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. “On paper, it’s easy to see our subtractions as a negative. But it’s also an opportunity for some guys to step up. Some teams get better with younger guys.
“We’ll know a little better in three weeks.”
The Devils appear undermanned as they open the season, but this team has surpassed predictions and exceeded expectations almost annually.
“Our goal doesn’t change. You have to have a good season. Our focus is getting off to a good start and contending for our division title,” Langenbrunner said. “Everybody in our division got better. The Islanders, too.”
“We expect a lot, to try for the Cup, and that’s always the goal,” Paul Martin said. “But right now, we don’t even think about that. It’s more game by game. . . . New guys, a little different system. You do the best you can and hope it doesn’t take too long to adapt.”
Brodeur sounded similarly cautious.
“It’s always an interesting first month, recognizing who’s where now, and how everybody fits in everywhere,” Brodeur said. “We’re no different, trying to find out what we’re capable of.
“You don’t like to say ‘Wait and see,’ but . . . I feel comfortable having to start the season with these guys. We played the last three [preseason] games with most of these guys, and I thought we played some decent (4-0-1) hockey on both sides of the puck.”
Similarly, coach Jacques Lemaire, who last coached the Devils in 1998, refused to promise to match the total produced by Brent Sutter’s team last season.
“But you have to get 100 [points] because you want to make the playoffs,” Lemaire said.
And put to rest that fear of the No. 13.
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Lemaire said his team is still adjusting to his new breakout and forecheck.
“We’re not at our best at what we’re trying to differently from last year,” Lemaire said. “There are options and we don’t see all the options now. With time we will. . . . We need games.”
Perhaps they could have used more than five exhibitions.
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Brodeur tonight joins Patrick Roy (1,029 games) as the only goalies to play 1,000 games.
“It’s a big number. With goalies it’s even worse,” said Brodeur, who holds the NHL record of 557 career victories. “It’s a pretty good sign of durability and longevity. You can’t play that many games if you’re not the No. 1 goalie for all those years.”
He said there may be other goalies to reach that milestone in the future.
“Athletes are taking care of themselves better than they used to. Guys are getting 15-year contracts, too, so you’re going to be a No. 1 for a lot of years,” Brodeur said.
Brodeur is also slated to make his 15th straight Opening Night start, breaking the NHL record he shares with Terry Sawchuk and Roy.
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The Devils are 17-5-4 in season openers. . . . Andy Greene, Jay Pandolfo and Pikkarainen were the extras in practice yesterday, although Lemaire said they aren’t necessarily out tonight. . . . Bergfors skated right wing with Brian Rolston and Dainius Zubrus, Halischuk was on the left side for Niedermayer and David Clarkson, and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblon and Andrew Peters flanked Pelley. . . . The ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 2 p.m. today for Championship Plaza, across Mulberry Street from the arena.