How To Survive: New Jersey Devils

Although the West is all ready for the Conference Semifinals, the East still has a lot to figure out.  There's several teams on the verge of elimination, looking for someone to step up and lead their team into the next round.

The New Jersey Devils have the most work to do, needing to win two games straight, something they haven't done yet in the post season since 2007.  The series was predicted to be either a quick sweep or a long, grueling fight, which it's turning out to be.  The Devils have taken too many periods off, and now they find themselves looking for an answer to all of those plastic rats.

Here's what they need to do to survive:

• Play a full game.  Playing 20 minutes a game isn't going to get you to the next round, even if you're up by three goals.  Florida is playing the underdog card better than anyone since, well, the Devils.  
• David Clarkson and Ilya Kovalchuk need to leave their concrete shoes at home for the next two games.
• Keep up the pressure on Florida's young defense.  
• Get in Clemmenson's head Tuesday night.  Theodore looks like he's out for at least the night, so if they can repeat last Thursday's matchup against Clemmenson, who was a huge thorn in the Devils side all regular season, they can grab the momentum swing into Game 7.
• Stop being so fancy and play some hockey.  They seem determined with forcing cute passes and dangles and are turning the puck over too much.  Do what you came here to do, play hockey and win.
• Don't complain about plastic rats falling from the sky or bad calls (incidental contact with the goaltender).  You shouldn't be looking at the refs to win the game for you; stay out of the box and keep the pressure on.

And if all else fails, win the round to have a better chance at keeping Parise long term.  The further you go, the more confidence he'll have in the core.