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Stephen Gionta and the Devils look to snap a three-game losing streak.

(Photo by William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – On his personal list of improbable accomplishments, playing a regular season game against the Sabres at First Niagara Center shouldn't rank very high for Devils center Stephen Gionta.



After all, he made it to the NHL when many viewed him as a career minor leaguer and he became a vital piece in the Devils' run to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring.



But as the Devils look to snap a three-game losing streak tomorrow, Gionta hopes to be a difference-maker in what will be a homecoming of sorts and a reminder of the dream he had while growing up in nearby Rochester.



"This will be a first," Gionta said. "It will be awesome playing against Buffalo. It's only an hour away from where my parents live. There will be a lot of family and friends. I think as a kid I played here between periods once. Real young. That was it.



"I've played in Rochester (in the AHL), but you always look at the Sabres as the NHL team closest to you and the history they have. Their affiliate has been in Rochester for so many years."



The Devils are going through a 1-4-1 stretch that has them sliding down the Eastern Conference standings. There are problems to fix, including finding a way to score goals. They've scored just one goal in four of their last six games and have fewer goals than anyone in the conference besides the Rangers, who've played one less game.



Coach Pete DeBoer said he's been happy with Gionta's play.

"Gio is one of the most consistent guys we've got," DeBoer said. "He gives you the same game every night. That's comforting for a coach."



A year ago Gionta was in Albany (AHL), seemingly playing out another minor league season while the Devils looked towards the playoffs. But on April 6 he was recalled and appeared in the team's final regular season game the next day, scoring his first NHL goal.



It was, Gionta hoped, a chance for him to finally prove he could play in the NHL. He wasn't sure himself.

"You never know. You're always hoping for that opportunity and you don't know if it's going to come," Gionta said. "I always thought I could play here, but I had the opportunity a couple years ago and it didn't work out. That's the way it goes.



"Then they gave me another opportunity last year and I tried grabbing it as best I could. That's when you realize, 'Maybe this could be it and I could play here.' "



Gionta played four years at Boston College but was undrafted. The Devils signed him to a minor league contract in April of 2006 and some wondered if it was done simply as a favor to older brother Brian, who'd just finished a 48-goal, 89-point season with the Devils.



"I was lucky enough that they gave me an opportunity out of college," Gionta said. "If it was because of that and that was what gave me a chance to play professional hockey, fine. But that alone is not going to get you to this level. I'm just thankful for the opportunities they've given me. To stay in the same organization for six or seven years now is pretty rare to see."



He rode the buses in the AHL and wondered if that would be the pinnacle of his hockey career.



"It always crosses your mind. I spent pretty close to six full seasons in the minors," he reminded. "I always said I could be happy with my career playing in one NHL game and I got that a couple years ago. If that's all it was, one game, that's something you dream of as a kid. To say you played in the best league is pretty cool, even for just one game. But it also gives you the itch that you want more."



Centering the Devils' fourth line with wingers Ryan Carter and Steve Bernier, Gionta made an impact in the playoffs. He signed a two-year deal with the Devils last summer, the first year a one-way contract at $525,000 and the second a two-way at $600,000.



The challenge, he recognized, was to move beyond the fairy tale story of the playoffs and earn a spot as a regular this season.

"It definitely is a challenge. Some nights you don't feel as energized as others, but you have to find a way to help out the team. If you don't have that energy you have to make sure you're responsible with the puck and play a simple game," Gionta said.



His line, which will be reunited tomorrow after the Devils activated Carter off IR today, has been DeBoer's third rather than fourth line this season.



"He recognizes what keeps him here," DeBoer said. "He has that ability to play with energy every night. That's not easy to do. That's what keeps him here."



With the energy line of Carter, Gionta and Bernier back, the Devils hope to end their slide. For Gionta, it couldn't start in a better place than Buffalo.

Rich Chere: rchere@starledger.com; twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils