NEWARK — Faced with the dilemma of yet another significant player going down with a long-term injury with the revelation that Damon Severson will miss 4-5 weeks with a fractured ankle, Devils coach Pete DeBoer said he isn't worried about his own job.

DeBoer has been booed before home games and the Devils have lost five in a row (0-3-2). They have also won only two games in their last 13 (2-7-4), but DeBoer said he is dealing with the pressures and isn't worried about being fired.

"No. That comes with the job," DeBoer said. "You show up here and you do the best job you possibly can. We're looking for solutions every day. Other people make those decisions.

"If it ends tomorrow, I know what I invested and what our staff has invested into these players on a daily basis and I think we're all comfortable with that. We don't like where we're at, but I know how hard we're working as a group."

How does general manager Lou Lamoriello feel about the team's situation?

"I have a lot of feelings about where we're at. That's for another time," Lamoriello said. "I don't think anybody is happy with where we're at. But right now we have to deal with where we are today, not where we were yesterday. That's all I have to say."

The Devils are in jeopardy of falling out of the playoff race.

"Sure you're concerned. I think what keeps me optimistic on a daily basis is the way we're playing," DeBoer said. "I really think we've played well in probably eight of our last 10 games. Well enough to pick up points and, in a lot of those games, better than the other teams.

"It hasn't resulted in points but if we keep doing that and get some people back, I know it will."

Does he have to sell his players on not giving up?

"It's not us selling that faith. I think the players truly believe that we're doing the right things," DeBoer said. "The key is filling the emotional tank back up on a daily basis because you play as hard as you do last night, you don't get rewarded, you know how important the game is. We're back at home and everybody understands the gravity of where we're at.

"When we don't get the result despite the fact you seem to do everything right, that emotional tank gets empty. You have to fill that back up for the next night in this league very quickly. Otherwise you're in trouble."

And his emotional tank? It gets low.

"Sure, you're human," he admitted. "But a coach's job is the players feed off you and your message. So you have to be at the front of that line."

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DeBoer said that with back-to-back games coming up against Tampa Bay and Washington, he may use both Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid.

Former Devils Bill Guerin and Eric Weinrich will serve as honorary captains for the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino Jan. 25-26 in Utica, N.Y.

Rich Chere may be reached at rchere@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ledger_NJDevils. Find NJ.com on Facebook.