Martin-Brodeur-Tony-Kurdzuk.JPG

Will the Devils keep goalie Martin Brodeur, shown at practice Monday?

(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)

NEWARK— They would have preferred to be in a playoff spot at the Olympic break, but the 13th-place Devils should be encouraged knowing they have the second-easiest remaining schedule in the entire NHL.

Only the Islanders have a more favorable schedule based on their opponents’ points percentage, according to Bob Waterman of Elias Sports Bureau.

"It doesn’t matter what kind of schedule you have if you don’t take advantage of it," warned goalie Martin Brodeur. "It’s one thing to talk about it. Favorable or not, we’re going to have to win probably 15 games to have a chance to make it.

"It’s a big test for us to see what we have inside of our team to be able to get some points and get some momentum. Favorable or not, this is the position we’re in. It’s one thing when you’re coasting into the playoffs, but that’s not the case. We’re going to need to bear down on every single team."

The Islanders, who will be without injured captain John Tavares the rest of the way, will face opponents with a combined .512 points percentage while the Devils will play teams with a .534 points percentage over their final 23 games.

"We just have to produce more, score more," Patrik Elias said. "We play well defensively. We don’t allow too much. But offensively we’ve got to be better."

That may mean acquiring a goal-scorer before the NHL’s March 5 trade deadline.

"I’m not looking for the cavalry to come in and save this team," coach Pete DeBoer said. "I really think the answers to our problems are inside that dressing room. I’m not waiting for a trade. I think we can get more out of this group and it’s my job to squeeze some more out of them."

The schedule should be a psychological boost for the Devils, who must climb over five teams to get into the top eight. They have 14 home games and nine on the road and do not have to leave the Eastern time zone. The Devils are 13-7-7 at home, including 5-0-1 in their last six at Prudential Center.

"It should be good," coach Pete DeBoer said. "There is such parity in this league. If you look at our record, we haven’t exactly eaten up the teams below us in the standings. But when you look at a 23-game sprint to the final, I think anyone would choose an easier schedule over a tougher schedule."

After the Islanders and Devils, the Flames, Bruins and Lightning have the easiest remaining schedules.

"I don’t think many guys really know the schedule beyond what’s coming up," said goalie Cory Schneider, who will start Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. "I think we know we have more home games than road games.

"We’ve had some tough stretches, some tough road trips. It will be nice to finish out the season being at home more often than not. But we can’t take that for granted. We’re definitely a better home team, but it all comes down to going out there and executing it. There are going to be a lot of desperate teams, a lot of road teams coming in here trying to get points. We’ve got to do our best to kind of hold serve on home ice."

The Devils do have six sets of back-to-backs remaining, including this weekend against the Islanders and Sharks. DeBoer said Brodeur will play over the weekend, but wouldn’t say which game.

"You’ll see both guys through this stretch, but I don’t know what the breakdown is going to be," the coach said.

If they can take advantage of the schedule, DeBoer likes his team’s chances in the playoffs.

"I do. I mean, I wouldn’t want to play against us," he said. "With the goaltending we’ve got, with the type of defense we play, with how we’ve played against good teams, some of the experience we have here and some of the playoff experience, I wouldn’t want to play against us. But we have to get in order to get that opportunity."

* * *

Lines remained the same as Monday for the Devils in practice Tuesday, except that Steve Bernier did not skate. Jacob Josefson took his spot on the fourth line.

The Devils said Bernier was absent for personal reasons.

Coach Pete DeBoer kept the Adam Henrique-Patrik Elias-Damien Brunner line together.

"They moved Rico on the wing with me now," Elias said. "I like playing with him. Because we both play the same positions, we can be interchangeable a bit maybe. We have to get Bruni (Brunner) a little more involved. He's the type of player who needs to be skating and moving in the offensive zone a lot."

Devils' practice lines:

Dainius Zubrus-Travis Zajac-Jaromir Jagr

Adam Henrique-Patrik Elias-Damien Brunner

Ryane Clowe-Andrei Loktionov-Michael Ryder

Ryan Carter-Jacob Josefson-Stephen Gionta

Defense pairings:

Andy Greene-Mark Fayne

Eric Gelinas-Jon Merrill

Bryce Salvador-Marek Zidlicky

Anton Volchenkov-Peter Harrold

Goalies:

Cory Schneider

Martin Brodeur