His team dead last in the standings, Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek insists the Devils are still Stanley Cup contenders.
“I think very, very highly of this team. We have the talent to compete for the Stanley Cup, and nothing has changed my mind,” Vanderbeek told The Post last night.
His Devils tonight will seek an end to the record they’ve already set for longest-ever home winless start, now seven games and counting, when they play host to the Oilers.
With only 10 points and a .313 point percentage, the Devils sit at the bottom of the standings.
“It’s a long season. I’m totally supportive. This team has a lot of talent, and over 82 games, it will show,” Vanderbeek said.
“It’s just a matter of time until we get it going, and people will see we’re one of the most talented teams in the league.”
Tonight stands as the Devils’ best chance to finally win a home game before December. They embark on a trip through Boston, Toronto and St. Louis next week, and will only play host to Washington, Calgary and Philly before month’s end.
“There are a lot of new faces on the team, and combined with the injuries and the new coaching staff, logically, these things take some time,” Vanderbeek said.
He would not discuss the coaching staff nor management, but seemed supportive in each case.
“I believe we’re not only making the playoffs, but going a long way,” Vanderbeek said. “There are 82 games. It’s how you finish, not how you start.”
Martin Brodeur may return to net tonight after missing two games with a bruised elbow. He took his first full practice with the team since the injury Nov. 3, and said that while there was still pain, he was able to handle his stick as he wished.
“Oh, yeah, I get the pain. Now, though, I’m able to do mostly what I want to do,” Brodeur said. “I don’t want to say ‘Yes,’ and come [today] with my elbow all sore. But if I feel how I felt [yesterday], I’ll be able to play.
“Unless I get hit in the same spot without padding. Then you’ll see a grown man cry.”
Brian Rolston is almost certain to make his first appearance since Oct. 9, when he suffered a sports hernia that required surgery.
“I felt good, ready to go,” Rolston said. “I’m excited to be back.”
Meanwhile, Ilya Kovalchuk will try to make amends for the chances he missed in Wednesay’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Sabres in Newark, a game that ended when he fumbled away the puck as he moved in for his shootout shot with the chance to extend the tiebreaker.
“I saw that on TV, and I thought it was funny, but when it happens to you, it’s not really funny,” Kovalchuk said. “But it’s all history. The sun is up, and everything is good. We’ve got a game we’ve got to win because we haven’t gotten a win at home yet, and that’s embarrassing.”