PHOTOS : New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings 3.4.14

Devils center Adam Henrique enjoys facing the Rangers. (Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

(Hindash, Saed)

NEWARK — His credentials as a Rangers killer, earned through his series-winning overtime goal in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, has put Devils forward Adam Henrique right at the center of the rivalry.

Rangers fans dislike him.

“If you’re playing for the Devils that’s a good thing, right?” Henrique asked. “I had to do something either right or really wrong in the past for them not to like me. I think it’s great.”

Of course, since Henrique scored that memorable goal to catapult the Devils into the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, they haven’t made the playoffs since. After missing the past two years, he’s had enough.

“It’s been tough missing out, especially last year when we were only a handful of points out,” Henrique said. “The way we started the season is what cost us when you look back at everything, so I think the guys know that and the guys are focused on having a good start to the year and carrying that right through to the end of the season.

“Every team’s goal at the start of a season is to make the playoffs. We’ve seen over the past couple of seasons that it doesn’t matter if you finish first or eighth. If you’re in the playoffs you have a chance to win. It’s happened.”

There is another component to the fact the Devils have missed the playoffs in two of Henrique’s three full seasons in the NHL. Those are prime years in his career in which there was no chance at a Cup.

Wasted years, perhaps.

"I don't know if they're wasted years. But every year coming in, that's the goal," Henrique reflected. "You want to win the Stanley Cup. But the progression of my game has gone the way I've wanted it to. I just try to get better every season and stay consistent with my game in all areas. The ultimate goal is to win a Stanley Cup. I think we have a group here that we can push for that.



"We showed two years ago that we got into the playoffs and went on a big run. L.A. finished eighth, went on a big run and they won. The goal right now is just getting into the playoffs."

Henrique, 24, is coming off a season in which he scored a career-high 25 goals in 77 games.

Thirty is definitely a possibility (he has two goals in the first five games), and it wouldn’t surprise some people if he became a 40-goal scorer.

“I hope so. If everything goes right from start to finish, if I can be consistent Game 1 to Game 82 and play every game, I think there is that potential,” Henrique said. “Hopefully I can contribute more and put up bigger numbers.”

The Devils believe he can, which is why they signed him to a 6-year, $24 million contract in the summer of 2013. That could turn out to be a bargain.

The sky may be the limit for Henrique. Would it be foolish to think he has the potential to some day become the first 100-point scorer in Devils’ history?

Is that number realistic? The closest the Devils have ever come to having a 100-point scorer was 96 by Patrik Elias in 2000-01.

“At some point, I think. That’s a lot of points, but I certainly hope so,” Henrique said.

For now, getting to the playoffs is the key. And the first Devils-Rangers game of the season is a big one.

“Anytime we play them there’s always a little extra in the game. You can tell right from the crowd and guys get a little more excited,” Henrique said. “They’re always fun games. Things from the past always come up. There is a reason why these teams hate each other. The rivalry is there.”

And where are the Devils right now?

“I think we’re happy with where or game is at,” Henrique said. “We’ve had a chance to win every game so far. There are always areas to improve, but I think we’re headed in the right direction. This is a big test for us.”

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