The 2000–01 New Jersey Devils season was the 27th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 19th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. Although the Devils won the Atlantic Division and were Eastern Conference champions for the third time, the team fell short of winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final series, four games to three.
Regular season The Devils had a scoring finesse unseen since the 1993–94 squad; their 295 goals scored propelled them to the best offensive team in the NHL, as well as the top spot in the Eastern Conference. They had two 40-goal scorers in Patrik Elias and Alexander Mogilny, while Petr Sykora finished with an impressive 35 goals. On October 28 at Pittsburgh, the Devils won in a 9–0 rout that saw John Madden and Randy McKay each score four goals. Martin Brodeur, as in previous seasons, played strongly, finishing with 42 wins, a 2.32 goals against average (GAA) and nine shutouts. Defensively, the team was also strong; their 195 goals allowed were the second-fewest in the East. From February 26 to March 23, the team went on a 13-game winning streak.
Despite having the fewest power-play opportunities of all 30 League teams with 310, the Devils had the best power play percentage at 22.90% (71 for 310).
Season standings
Playoffs
Schedule and results
Regular season
|1||October 6, 2000||8–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||1–0–0–0 ||
|2||October 13, 2000||1–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||1–1–0–0 ||
|3||October 14, 2000||4–2 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01) ||2–1–0–0 ||
|4||October 17, 2000||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||2–1–1–0 ||
|5||October 19, 2000||2–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||2–2–1–0 ||
|6||October 21, 2000||7–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||3–2–1–0 ||
|7||October 25, 2000||2–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||4–2–1–0 ||
|8||October 27, 2000||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||4–2–2–0 ||
|9||October 28, 2000||9–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||5–2–2–0 ||
|10||October 30, 2000||6–5 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||6–2–2–0 ||
|11||November 1, 2000||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||6–2–3–0 ||
|12||November 2, 2000||3–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||6–3–3–0 ||
|13||November 4, 2000||1–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (2000–01) ||6–4–3–0 ||
|14||November 8, 2000||3–4 || align="left"| Nashville Predators (2000–01) ||6–5–3–0 ||
|15||November 10, 2000||2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||6–6–3–0 ||
|16||November 11, 2000||0–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||6–7–3–0 ||
|17||November 14, 2000||2–3 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2000–01) ||6–8–3–0 ||
|18||November 16, 2000||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2000–01) ||7–8–3–0 ||
|19||November 18, 2000||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||8–8–3–0 ||
|20||November 22, 2000||5–2 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01) ||9–8–3–0 ||
|21||November 23, 2000||6–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (2000–01) ||10–8–3–0 ||
|22||November 25, 2000||3–2 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (2000–01) ||11–8–3–0 ||
|23||November 29, 2000||5–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2000–01) ||12–8–3–0 ||
|24||December 1, 2000||0–0 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (2000–01) ||12–8–4–0 ||
|25||December 3, 2000||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2000–01) ||12–8–5–0 ||
|26||December 5, 2000||6–1 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (2000–01) ||13–8–5–0 ||
|27||December 7, 2000||2–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||13–9–5–0 ||
|28||December 9, 2000||2–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||13–10–5–0 ||
|29||December 11, 2000||4–0 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||14–10–5–0 ||
|30||December 15, 2000||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||15–10–5–0 ||
|31||December 16, 2000||3–6 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||15–11–5–0 ||
|32||December 20, 2000||4–1 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (2000–01) ||16–11–5–0 ||
|33||December 22, 2000||2–0 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||17–11–5–0 ||
|34||December 23, 2000||5–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||18–11–5–0 ||
|35||December 27, 2000||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01) ||18–11–6–0 ||
|36||December 29, 2000||4–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||19–11–6–0 ||
|37||December 31, 2000||6–3 || align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01) ||20–11–6–0 ||
|38||January 2, 2001||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||20–11–7–0 ||
|39||January 4, 2001||4–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2000–01) ||21–11–7–0 ||
|40||January 6, 2001||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2000–01) ||21–11–8–0 ||
|41||January 10, 2001||5–1 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2000–01) ||22–11–8–0 ||
|42||January 13, 2001||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||22–11–9–0 ||
|43||January 16, 2001||4–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2000–01) ||22–12–9–0 ||
|44||January 18, 2001||7–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||23–12–9–0 ||
|45||January 20, 2001||3–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||24–12–9–0 ||
|46||January 21, 2001||4–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2000–01) ||25–12–9–0 ||
|47||January 24, 2001||4–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (2000–01) ||26–12–9–0 ||
|48||January 25, 2001||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (2000–01) ||26–12–9–1 ||
|49||January 27, 2001||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2000–01) ||26–12–9–2 ||
|50||January 30, 2001||3–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (2000–01) ||27–12–9–2 ||
|51||January 31, 2001||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2000–01) ||27–13–9–2 ||
|52||February 6, 2001||4–0 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||28–13–9–2 ||
|53||February 8, 2001||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||28–13–10–2 ||
|54||February 10, 2001||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||28–13–10–3 ||
|55||February 11, 2001||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2000–01) ||28–13–11–3 ||
|56||February 14, 2001||2–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||28–14–11–3 ||
|57||February 16, 2001||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||28–14–12–3 ||
|58||February 17, 2001||1–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||28–15–12–3 ||
|59||February 19, 2001||2–0 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) ||29–15–12–3 ||
|60||February 22, 2001||0–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) ||29–16–12–3 ||
|61||February 23, 2001||2–3 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||29–17–12–3 ||
|62||February 26, 2001||5–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (2000–01) ||30–17–12–3 ||
|63||February 27, 2001||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2000–01) ||31–17–12–3 ||
|64||March 2, 2001||7–3 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) ||32–17–12–3 ||
|65||March 4, 2001||6–0 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||33–17–12–3 ||
|66||March 6, 2001||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2000–01) ||34–17–12–3 ||
|67||March 8, 2001||6–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Wild (2000–01) ||35–17–12–3 ||
|68||March 10, 2001||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) ||36–17–12–3 ||
|69||March 13, 2001||6–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (2000–01) ||37–17–12–3 ||
|70||March 14, 2001||3–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (2000–01) ||38–17–12–3 ||
|71||March 17, 2001||6–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2000–01) ||39–17–12–3 ||
|72||March 19, 2001||4–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (2000–01) ||40–17–12–3 ||
|73||March 21, 2001||4–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2000–01) ||41–17–12–3 ||
|74||March 23, 2001||4–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (2000–01) ||42–17–12–3 ||
|75||March 25, 2001||2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01) ||42–18–12–3 ||
|76||March 27, 2001||7–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) ||43–18–12–3 ||
|77||March 28, 2001||4–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) ||44–18–12–3 ||
|78||March 31, 2001||3–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2000–01) ||44–19–12–3 ||
|79||April 2, 2001||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01) ||45–19–12–3 ||
|80||April 3, 2001||6–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2000–01) ||46–19–12–3 ||
|81||April 6, 2001||5–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2000–01) ||47–19–12–3 ||
|82||April 7, 2001||2–0 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) ||48–19–12–3 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 12, 2001 || 5–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Devils lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 15, 2001 || 2–0 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Devils lead 2–0 ||
| 3 || April 17, 2001 || 4–0 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Devils lead 3–0 ||
| 4 || April 18, 2001 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Devils lead 3–1 ||
| 5 || April 20, 2001 || 2–3 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Devils lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || April 22, 2001 || 5–1 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Devils win 4–2 ||
| 1 || April 26, 2001 || 0–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leafs lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 28, 2001 || 6–5 OT || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 1, 2001 || 3–2 OT || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Devils lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || May 3, 2001 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || May 5, 2001 || 2–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leafs lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || May 7, 2001 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || May 9, 2001 || 5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Devils win 4–3 ||
| 1 || May 12, 2001 || 3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Devils lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || May 15, 2001 || 2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 17, 2001 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Devils lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || May 19, 2001 || 5–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Devils lead 3–1 ||
| 5 || May 22, 2001 || 4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Devils win 4–1 ||
| 1 || May 26, 2001 || 0–5 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || May 29, 2001 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 31, 2001 || 1–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || June 2, 2001 || 3–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || June 4, 2001 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Devils lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || June 7, 2001 || 0–4 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || June 9, 2001 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche win 4–3 ||
Legend:
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.