"The New Jersey Devils, which missed a $100 million principal loan payment Sept. 1, have taken a small step toward a financial recovery after principal owner Jeff Vanderbeek reached an agreement to purchase co-owner Ray Chambers' 47-percent stake in the franchise, The Post has learned.

The deal for Chambers' stake, which had been on the market for more than eight months, helps steady the Devils' ownership situation -- but the heavily-indebted NHL team must still work to restructure it debt.

The team's lenders have not yet agreed to refinance the Devils' loans which are in default, a source close to the situation told The Post."