Devils extend "9-game-heater" to 10

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 last night in the Bell Centre for their 10th straight win — which includes victories over the Avalanche, Oilers, and back-to-back wins over the Flames.

The fact this squad is sitting atop the Metropolitan Division and only 2 points back from sharing first place in the Eastern Conference with the Bruins, is absolutely mind blowing.

Especially when you consider that only 1 out of 15 NHL.com staff writers and editors picked the Devils to make the playoffs — a wild card entry at that.

Meanwhile, ESPN and the Hockey News both ranked the Devils 24th best NHL team (out of 32) heading into the season.

But thanks to solid performances throughout their lineup, and elite play out of Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Dougie Hamilton, the Devils are deservingly a confident bunch right now.

Prior to last night's victory over the Habs, Devils' stud Jack Hughes was asked by a reporter, "What can the Devils do to gain a little bit more consistency throughout those full 60 minutes?"

Well said, Jack. And congrats extending that heater to 10!

TRIVIA: Can you name these current NHL players, pictured here at the 2011 Brick Invitational? Hint: they were teammates the year of their draft.

4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ John Tavares joins the 400-goal club. Tavares snapped one past Pens netminder Casey DeSmith last night for career goal #400 in his 966th NHL game. Tavares currently sits 107th on the NHL's all-time goal list. With all of the HHOF talk of late, do you think he's on pace to be inducted one day?

🚨🚨🚨 NHL fans were treated to three overtime games last night. Watch all three game winners:

• Alex Killorn sent the Dallas Stars home with an overtime loss

• Blue Jackets defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov finishes tic-tac-toe passing play to defeat the Flyers

• Klingberg tied it with under a minute left in regulation before Ryan Strome scored the OT-winner off a give-and-go with Zegras

• John Tortorella gives classic Torts interview 😂

• Bobrovsky makes 41 saves to help Panthers hold off Capitals

• Horvat's three points help Canucks edge Sabres

• Sharks rally, defeat Golden Knights for third straight win

• 'I love the team here': Johnny Gaudreau focused on positives in Columbus

• Canadiens' Drouin out four-to-six weeks with upper-body injury

• Canada opens Rivalry Series with shootout lost to U.S. in Kelowna

• Sens' Joseph fined $5K for high-sticking Islanders' Aho

• Craig’s List: Eiserman the early favourite for No. 1 in 2024

• NHL shooting coach Tim Turk explains proper top hand placement for a quicker release

• Defensemen: work on puck retrievals and finding a lane with these drills from AP Hockey

TRIVIA ANSWER:

Jack Hughes and Cole Caufield