Turning the Corner(?)

Is for real, or is it just a tease of what could, and all honestly should, have been?

Have the New Jersey Devils finally turned the proverbial corner or are they simply exploiting midseason lulls by 5 different teams?

5-0-1 over their past six games have put the Devils in position to pull themselves out of last place, or at least have some company should they win their 4th game in a row this afternoon when they face the Florida Panthers.

Florida, who just last week, thwarted the Devils' chance to notch their first three game winning streak in over a calendar year, comes into NJ following a Friday night loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With a win today, as already stated, the Devils will pull the Edmonton Oilers into a tie for last in the NHL, if only for a few hours. The Oilers take to the ice tonight at 8 pm and with a win or an overtime loss of their own, would avoid falling back to the basement where they t have in recent seasons staked a VIP seat. From there, the Islanders are the next threat to join the bottom feeder party as their glimmers of hope from December have been torn apart just like the always questionable health of poster child for the IR list, goaltender Rick DiPietro.

Just over 2 weeks ago, the Devils did what they've done only a few times this season, score more than two goals in a game. Not only did they notch 5 goals, but they pulled out a second multi-goal night just a few days later against the same lightning they dominated that Monday. Bookended week victories (Monday and Friday) gave fans a familiar glimmer of hope.

Could this FINALLY be the time they turn it around? Could they finally string together a winning streak, or would this be just like the few other times this season (or the year for that matter) when they put together back to back wins only to squander it the next game in embarrassing fashion.

Let’s see which Devils show up tonight, the new and improved one’s who have been showing a ton of energy and heart, or the one’s just have been all over the map, defying all logic.