Devils stats from NYTimes blog

The Devils’ Streak, By the Numbers (thank you NYTimes)

After a pair of victories — 2-1 over Pittsburgh in overtime on Friday and 3-2 over the Islanders in a shootout on Sunday — New Jersey is 20-2-2 in its last 24 games. The Devils are eight points behind eighth-place Buffalo with 17 games remaining for both teams. Jacques Lemaire’s team may run out of time in its hunt for a playoff berth, but consider these numbers during this 24-game streak — as compiled by MSG Network statistician Eric Hornick:

The Devils are 20-2-2 in their last 24 after opening the season 10-29-2. With their win Sunday, they are within one game of NHL .500 for the first time since they were 1-2-1 in the season’s first 4 games.

In the 24-game streak, they are 16-2 in games decided in regulation (losing 3-1 to Detroit on Jan. 26 and 2-1 in Tampa on Feb. 25) and 4-0-2 in overtime/shootout. The win over the Islanders featured the first shootout the Devils have participated in since Nov. 27.

New Jersey is 10-0-1 during the streak at home. An overtime loss to Florida is the only blemish, and the only time the Devils have allowed four goals or more during the streak.

They have not allowed a first period goal in 14 straight games, setting a modern N.H.L. record. The previous record was 13, which was done three times.

Ilya Kovalchuk has six game-winning goals in the last 13 games. Kovalchuk is 10-9-19 in his last 16 games and is plus-12 during the 24-game stretch. Prior to the winning streak, he was minus-29 on the season.

Martin Brodeur is 12-1-1 in his last 14 appearances. He hasn’t given up more than three goals in a game since Dec. 23. He is now 17-19-2, resurrecting the chance of finishing the season with a winning record — as he has every year in his N.H.L. career.

The Devils had 23 points in February (11-1-1) after only earning 22 points combined in October, November and December.

Devils are 17-7-4 in one-goal games this season, including 12-1-2 during the streak.