Devils co-owners David Blitzer, Josh Harris anticipate first playoff berth since 2012

NEWARK – Even before their Devils rallied in the third period for a 2-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday night at Prudential Center, co-owners David Blitzer and Josh Harris expressed confidence in their team breaking its five-season playoff drought.

“I expect them to be playing playoff hockey,” Blitzer said after Patrik Elias’ jersey retirement ceremony. “You heard that building tonight, right, and how loud that crowd was? The fans really deserve it. They really do.”

Kyle Palmieri scored twice in the third period for the Devils (32-22-8), who snapped a two-game losing streak as Keith Kinkaid made 30 saves and are in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division and in the Eastern Conference’s first-wild card spot. They finished last in the conference last season and have not made the playoffs since 2012.

“I hope we’re going to the playoffs,” said Harris, who purchased the Devils along with his partner, Blitzer, on Aug. 15, 2013. “Long run, we want to be an elite Stanley Cup Contender year in and year out and there are no shortcuts to that. The first number of years here we were doing all the steps it’s probably harder to see. This year, it’s finally starting to show up in terms of surprising some people in terms of making a playoff run here.”

Harris added that, earlier this season, the organization picked up the option year on coach John Hynes’ contract for next season.

The Islanders (29-27-7), have lost three straight as Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves.

Devils leading scorer Taylor Hall extended his NHL-best point streak to 14 games with the primary assist on Kyle Palmieri’s equalizer at 6:35 of the third period and the secondary assist on Palmieri’s go-ahead goal at 11:11 as he deflected Sami Vatanen’s shot. Hall has 14 goals and 16 assists with at least a point in each of the last 21 games he’s played.

Hall has two seasons remaining after this season on his seven-year, $42 million deal he initially signed with the Oilers. So, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the earliest the Devils could sign Hall to an extension is July 1, 2019.

But both Harris and Blitzer said they want Hall to remain a Devil past his current deal.

Blitzer said he could even envision Hall’s jersey retirement ceremony years in the future.

“I think Taylor Hall should get the Hart Trophy this year,” Blitzer said. “Taylor is a player we’d love to see with this organization. We just watched quite a ceremony. It’d be fun to have the same exact ceremony for Taylor Hall.”

“We hope that Taylor Hall is with our franchise for a long time and becomes the backbone of our franchise,” added Harris, saying general manager Ray Shero is, “working on the timing of that, specifically.”

Hall’s former teammate in Edmonton, Jordan Eberle, gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 3:55 of the second period with a redirection of Anthony Beauviller’s feed on a three-on-two rush.

Briefs

Left wing Michael Grabner, acquired from the Rangers on Friday, logged 13:34 with two shots in his Devils’ debut. …Goalie Cory Schneider (groin/hip) missed his 15th straight game but worked hard on the ice for an hour, 45 minutes before, during and after the morning skate and could potentially be ready to rejoin the lineup if he, as planned, participates in Monday’s full team practice. … Forward Brian Gibbons (right thumb), out since Jan. 20, continues to skate but will not accompany the Devils on their upcoming road trip to Pittsburgh, Florida and Carolina. …Rookie left wing John Quenneville (right knee), out since Feb. 10, skated with teammates for the first time since getting hurt. …Left wing Blake Pietila was re-assigned to Binghamton (AHL). …Defensemen Mirco Mueller and right wing Jimmy Hayes were the healthy scratches.

E-mail: grossa@northjersey.com