2001–02 New Jersey Devils season

The 2001–02 New Jersey Devils season was the 28th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 20th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. The Devils finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Fifty-one games in to the season, head coach Larry Robinson was fired and Kevin Constantine was named his replacement for their final 31 games. On April 13, 2002, the Devils clinched a sixth-place Conference finish and a third-place Division finish. The Devils came into the playoffs for the 6th consecutive season but they were upset in the Conference Quarterfinals by the eventual Eastern Conference champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, losing in six games.

Regular season

The Devils had the fewest power-play opportunities during the regular season, with just 261, and they tied the Washington Capitals for the fewest short-handed goals scored, with just two. However, the Devils were also the most disciplined team during the regular season, finishing with an NHL-low 265 power-play opportunities against.

Season standings

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(E6) New Jersey Devils vs. (E3) Carolina Hurricanes

The series opened in Raleigh. Carolina won Games 1 and 2, 2–1 – Game 1 in regulation and Game 2 in overtime. Games 3 and 4 were at the Meadowlands. The Devils won Game 3, 4–0, and Game 4, 3–1. Game 5 was back in Raleigh, where the Hurricanes won 3–2 in overtime. Game 6 shifted back to the Meadowlands, where Carolina prevailed 1–0 and clinched the series victory, 4–2.

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.

Goaltending

• † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

The Devils were involved in the following transactions from June 10, 2001, the day after the deciding game of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 13, 2002, the day of the deciding game of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

The Devils' draft picks at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.

See also

• 2001–02 NHL season

Notes

References