The Devils playoff chances took a huge hit Monday night with a 1-0 loss to the Flames at Prudential Center in Newark.
Cory Schneider stopped 21 of 22 shots for the Devils, which fell to 34-29-16. The Devils are three points behind the Blue Jackets for the last playoff spot in the East, with one fewer game remaining.
“In my opinion, I think we’re going to get one more chance [to make the playoffs],” Jaromir Jagr said. “It’s too strange to finish like that. You’ve got to believe. It wouldn’t make any sense to finish like that. We dominated. Just keep the faith and I think we’re going to get one more chance in my opinion.”
The Devils were shut out for the 10th time this season.
The Devils had a goal disallowed with 1:26 left in the first, after replays showed Ryan Carter kicked the puck, but it was inconclusive whether the Devils left wing was able to get his stick on it before it rolled under Flames goalie Karri Ramo.
“[We] had chances and opportunities and didn’t stick it in the back of the net,” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. “A common theme, [we] don’t score easily and we hadn’t all year. We’re at mercy of games like this where margin of error is very small.”
Ramo made 31 saves to record his second NHL shutout.
Mark Giordano scored for Calgary, which improved to 34-38-7. The Flames are 16-20-4 on the road this season.