"The Atlantic Division's fourth-place Devils tackle the three teams above them in four days, but coach Pete DeBoer said this won't be the true tell-tale sign for his team, even as the NHL trade deadline looms.

"Considering where we're sitting and going in undermanned, I'm not drawing any lines in the sand saying, 'This is our test to see if we can compete with these teams,' " DeBoer said. "I don't think it's fair to do that.

"I feel we can [compete]. Obviously, it's an important stretch. The only way to make up ground is by beating the teams above you.""