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Devils left wing Tuomo Ruttu (15) scored four points in his first three games after being traded from Carolina to New Jersey on March 5, but since has no points in eight games.

(Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports))

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The Devils have a day off Sunday, so they might not get a chance to add to their NHL record of 14 consecutive shootout losses until playing the Florida Panthers at home on Monday night.

Here are 5 Devils things you need to know today:

1. NOW WHAT?

If you're a Devils fan keeping the faith – and there can't be many of you out there – then root for Nashville to beat Washington on Sunday because the Caps are one of the teams ahead of them in the wild card standings. After that, you need a bunch of wins and a lot of help.

2. BACK-TO-BACK

The Devils are closing in on missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since they didn't qualify in their first five seasons after the franchise relocated from Kansas City to New Jersey from 1982-83 to 1986-87. Makes you wonder what changes will be forthcoming in the offseason.

3. FANTASY WORLD

Wonder where the Devils would be in the standings if they were just mediocre in shootouts? Well, if they had gone 5-5 instead of 0-10 in them, they'd have five more points and be holding a playoff spot in a tiebreaker. With five more points, the Devils, Columbus and Detroit all would be tied for two berths with 82 points. The Blue Jackets would be the first wild card by virtue of their 33 wins in regulation or overtime, and the Devils would be the second wild card due to their 31 regulation/OT victories. The second wild card will face the top seed in the playoffs, so in our little fantasy world, the Devils could have been looking at a first-round matchup against Boston.

4. DIDN'T USE TO BE LIKE THIS

Devils goalie Cory Schneider has been terrible in shootouts this season, allowing nine goals in 16 shots in going 0-6. But before being traded to the Devils last summer, Schneider was decent in shootouts. While with Vancouver, Schneider had a 6-5 shootout record with 25 saves on 38 shots, a .658 save percentage.

5. TRADE WINNER?

Initially, it looked like the Devils might have gotten something pretty decent without giving much up when acquiring left wing Tuomo Ruutu from Carolina for center Andrei Loktionov on March 5. Now? Not so much. Ruutu sure looked good piling up four points in his first three games as a Devil, but since he has no points and is a minus-4 in eight games. Meantime, Loktionov has been playing well for Carolina. After scoring Saturday, the Russian now has three goals and six points in 12 games with the Hurricanes. He had just four goals and 12 points in 48 games this season for the Devils.