2009–10 New Jersey Devils season facts for kids
The 2009–10 season was the New Jersey Devils ice hockey team's 27th year playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) since they moved to New Jersey.
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Getting Ready: Pre-Season Games
Before the regular season officially started, the New Jersey Devils played five pre-season games to get ready. These games help players warm up and coaches decide who will be on the team.
The Devils had a great pre-season, winning four out of five games! They only had one overtime loss. This showed they were ready for the challenges ahead.
The Regular Season: Playing to Win
The regular season is where teams play many games to earn points and try to make it to the playoffs. The Devils played 82 games in total.
How the Devils Ranked in Their Division
The Devils are part of the Atlantic Division. Here's how they stood against other teams in their division:
| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-New Jersey Devils | 82 | 48 | 27 | 7 | 222 | 191 | 103 |
| x-Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 47 | 28 | 7 | 257 | 237 | 101 |
| x-Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 41 | 35 | 6 | 236 | 225 | 88 |
| e-New York Rangers | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 222 | 218 | 87 |
| e-New York Islanders | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 222 | 264 | 79 |
How the Devils Ranked in Their Conference
The Devils also play in the Eastern Conference. Here's how they ranked among all the teams in the Eastern Conference:
| Eastern Conference | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p-Washington Capitals * | 82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 318 | 233 | 121 |
| y-New Jersey Devils * | 82 | 48 | 27 | 7 | 222 | 191 | 103 |
| y-Buffalo Sabres * | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 235 | 207 | 100 |
| x-Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 47 | 28 | 7 | 257 | 237 | 101 |
| x-Ottawa Senators | 82 | 44 | 32 | 6 | 225 | 238 | 94 |
| x-Boston Bruins | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 206 | 200 | 91 |
| x-Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 41 | 35 | 6 | 236 | 225 | 88 |
| x-Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 39 | 33 | 10 | 217 | 223 | 88 |
| e-New York Rangers | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 222 | 218 | 87 |
| e-Atlanta Thrashers | 82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 234 | 256 | 83 |
| e-Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 230 | 256 | 80 |
| e-Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 217 | 260 | 80 |
| e-New York Islanders | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 222 | 264 | 79 |
| e-Florida Panthers | 82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 208 | 244 | 77 |
| e-Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 30 | 38 | 14 | 214 | 267 | 74 |
Game by Game: A Look at the Season
The Devils played many exciting games throughout the 2009–10 season. They had a total of 48 wins, 27 losses, and 7 overtime losses, earning 103 points. They were very strong at home, winning 27 games at the Prudential Center.
Here's a quick look at how they did each month:
October: A Strong Start
The Devils started October with a few losses but quickly turned things around. They won 8 games and lost 4, earning 16 points. They were especially good on the road, winning all 7 of their away games!
November: Winning Streak
November was a fantastic month for the Devils. They won 9 games, lost only 2, and had 1 overtime loss, adding 19 points. They were unbeatable at home, winning all 6 games played at the Prudential Center.
December: More Victories
The winning continued in December! The Devils won 11 games, lost 4, and earned 22 points. They kept their home ice strong, winning 8 games there.
January: A Tougher Stretch
January was a bit more challenging for the team. They won 7 games, lost 7, and had 1 overtime loss, getting 15 points. They faced some tough opponents this month.
February: Short Month, Fewer Games
February was a shorter month with fewer games. The Devils won 2 games, lost 4, and had 1 overtime loss, earning 5 points.
March: Pushing for Playoffs
In March, the Devils pushed hard to secure their spot in the playoffs. They won 7 games, lost 5, and had 3 overtime losses, adding 17 points.
April: Finishing Strong
The Devils finished the regular season strong in April. They won 4 games, lost 1, and had 1 overtime loss, earning 9 points. This helped them secure their spot in the playoffs.
Playoffs: The Stanley Cup Challenge
The Stanley Cup playoffs are the most exciting part of the hockey season! Only the best teams get to compete for the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy.
On March 27, 2010, after beating the Montreal Canadiens, the Devils officially earned their spot in the playoffs. This was their 13th year in a row making it to the playoffs, which is a great achievement!
Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: Facing the Flyers
In the first round of the playoffs, called the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals, the Devils played against the Philadelphia Flyers. This was a best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games would move on.
The series was tough:
- Game 1: The Flyers won 2-1.
- Game 2: The Devils fought back and won 5-3, tying the series!
- Game 3: The Flyers won in overtime, 3-2.
- Game 4: The Flyers won 4-1.
- Game 5: The Flyers won 3-0, winning the series 4-1.
Unfortunately, the Devils were eliminated from the playoffs by the Flyers. Even though they didn't win the Stanley Cup, making it to the playoffs for so many years in a row showed how strong the team was!
| Preceded by 2008–09 New Jersey Devils season |
New Jersey Devils 2009–10 season |
Succeeded by 2010–11 New Jersey Devils season |
