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NEWARK, N.J. — There has been a power shift in the New York City metropolitan area in the NHL.

After missing the playoffs for the past five seasons and finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season, the New Jersey Devils seemingly are back.

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And that’s not all.

The New York Rangers have waved the white flag after a seven-year post-season run that included a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and two other trips to the conference championship round. They will be trading assets for prospects as Monday’s deadline approaches.

And the Islanders are being the Islanders. They are talented, inconsistent and just on the edge of a playoff berth heading into the final quarter of a season that might be John Tavares’ last with the club should he choose free agency.

The surprising story is the Devils. They are young, fast and a pain in the neck to play against. Their 70 points with 22 games left in the season matches their total of last year and it has them in the top wild-card position.