2009–10 New Jersey Devils season

The 2009–10 New Jersey Devils season was the 36th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 28th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season.

Off-season On June 9, 2009, Brent Sutter resigned as head coach of the Devils to become the head coach of the Calgary Flames.Sutter steps down from behind the bench

At the Entry Draft, the Devils traded with the Calgary Flames to move up in the draft and chose Jacob Josefson with the 20th overall pick.

On July 13, 2009, the Devils named Jacques Lemaire as their new head coach.JACQUES IS BACK: Lemaire returns as Devils head coach This was Lemaire's 2nd stint with the club. He won the Stanley Cup as head coach of the Devils back in 1995.

Preseason

|- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 1 || September 16 || New York Rangers || 3–2 (SO) || Prudential Center – 10,481 || 1–0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 2 || September 23 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – 8,256 || 2–0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB" | 3 || September 24 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–2 (OT) || Wachovia Center – 17,650 || 2–0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 4 || September 26 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–0 || Prudential Center – 11,167 || 3–0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 5 || September 29 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || Prudential Center – 10,311 || 4–0–1

Regular season The Devils allowed only 186 goals (excluding five shootout goals) during the regular season, the fewest of all 30 teams. They were also the most disciplined team in the NHL, with just 240 power-play opportunities against.

December 21, 2009 – In a victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Martin Brodeur broke Terry Sawchuk's record for the most regular-season shutouts with his 104th career shutout. Then, he shut out the Penguins again on December 30, 2009, earning him his 105th shutout, giving him the all-time professional record for most shutouts. April 6, 2010 – In a victory over the Atlanta Thrashers, Martin Brodeur earned his 600th career win and 110th career shutout.

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 1 || October 3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–5 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 0–1–0 || 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2 || October 5 || New York Rangers || 2–3 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 0–2–0 || 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 3 || October 8 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 (SO) || St. Pete Times Forum – 17,454 || 1–2–0 || 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 4 || October 10 || Florida Panthers || 3–2 || BankAtlantic Center – 18,802 || 2–2–0 || 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 5 || October 12 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 (SO) || Verizon Center – 18,277 || 3–2–0 || 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 6 || October 16 || Atlanta Thrashers || 2–4 || Prudential Center – 14,187 || 3–3–0 || 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 7 || October 17 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2–0 || Prudential Center – 15,021 || 4–3–0 || 8 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 8 || October 22 || New York Rangers || 4–2 || Madison Square Garden – 18,200 || 5–3–0 || 10 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 9 || October 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Mellon Arena – 17,132 || 6–3–0 || 12 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 10 || October 28 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–4 || Prudential Center – 14,182 || 6–4–0 || 12 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 11 || October 29 || Boston Bruins || 2–1 || TD Garden – 17,565 || 7–4–0 || 14 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 12 || October 31 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–1 (SO) || St. Pete Times Forum – 12,154 || 8–4–0 || 16

|- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 13 || November 4 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 || Prudential Center – 13,498 || 9–4–0 || 18 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 14 || November 6 || New York Islanders || 2–1 || Prudential Center – 14,109 || 10–4–0 || 20 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 15 || November 7 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || Scotiabank Place – 18,781 || 11–4–0 || 22 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 16 || November 11 || Anaheim Ducks || 3–1 || Prudential Center – 14,123 || 12–4–0 || 24 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 17 || November 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Mellon Arena – 17,005 || 13–4–0 || 26 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 18 || November 14 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Prudential Center – 16,521 || 14–4–0 || 28 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 19 || November 16 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 || Wachovia Center – 19,673 || 14–5–0 || 28 |- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB" | 20 || November 19 || Nashville Predators || 2–3 (SO) || Sommet Center – 13,445 || 14–5–1 || 29 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 21 || November 21 || Dallas Stars || 3–5 || American Airlines Center – 17,514 || 14–6–1 || 29 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 22 || November 25 || Ottawa Senators || 3–1 || Prudential Center – 14,056 || 15–6–1 || 31 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 23 || November 27 || Boston Bruins || 2–1 (SO) || TD Garden – 17,565 || 16–6–1 || 33 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 24 || November 28 || New York Islanders || 6–1 || Prudential Center – 16,961 || 17–6–1 || 35

|- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 25 || December 2 || Vancouver Canucks || 2–5 || Prudential Center – 13,586 || 17–7–1 || 35 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 26 || December 4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–2 || Prudential Center – 15,336 || 18–7–1 || 37 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 27 || December 5 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 (SO) || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 19–7–1 || 39 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 28 || December 7 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–0 || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 20–7–1 || 41 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 29 || December 9 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–2 || Prudential Center – 12,013 || 21–7–1 || 43 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 30 || December 11 || Florida Panthers || 2–4 || Prudential Center – 14,132 || 21–8–1 || 43 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 31 || December 12 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–1 || Prudential Center – 15,724 || 22–8–1 || 45 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 32 || December 16 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || Prudential Center – 12,178 || 23–8–1 || 47 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 33 || December 18 || Ottawa Senators || 4–2 || Prudential Center – 13,728|| 24–8–1 || 49 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 34 || December 19 || Atlanta Thrashers || 5–4 || Philips Arena – 14,616 || 25–8–1 || 51 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 35 || December 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0 || Mellon Arena – 17,132 || 26–8–1 || 53 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 36 || December 26 || Washington Capitals || 1–4 || Verizon Center – 18,277 || 26–9–1 || 53 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 37 || December 28 || Atlanta Thrashers || 3–2 || Prudential Center – 17,024 || 27–9–1 || 55 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 38 || December 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–0 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 28–9–1 || 57 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 39 || December 31 || Chicago Blackhawks || 1–5 || United Center – 21,614|| 28–10–1 || 57

|- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 40 || January 2 || Minnesota Wild || 5–3 || Xcel Energy Center – 19,155 || 29–10–1 || 59 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 41 || January 5 || Dallas Stars || 4–0 || Prudential Center – 14,202 || 30–10–1 || 61 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 42 || January 8/10 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–4 || Prudential Center – 15,129 || 30–11–1 || 61 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 43 || January 9 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 (OT)|| Bell Centre – 21,273 || 31–11–1 || 63 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 44 || January 12 || New York Rangers || 1–0 (SO) || Madison Square Garden – 18,200 || 32–11–1 || 65 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 45 || January 14 || Phoenix Coyotes || 3–4 || Jobing.com Arena – 9,430 || 32–12–1 || 65 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 46 || January 16 || Colorado Avalanche || 1–3 || Pepsi Center – 17,816 || 32–13–1 || 65 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 47 || January 18 || New York Islanders || 0–4 || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – 16,250 || 32–14–1 || 65 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 48 || January 20 || Florida Panthers || 2–0 || Prudential Center – 13,931 || 33–14–1 || 67 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 49 || January 22 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–3 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 33–15–1 || 67 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 50 || January 23 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – 16,250 || 34–15–1 || 69 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 51 || January 26 || Ottawa Senators || 0–3 || Scotiabank Place – 18,107 || 34–16–1 || 69 |- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB" | 52 || January 27 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–2 (SO) || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 34–16–2 || 70 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 53 || January 29 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–4 (OT) || Prudential Center – 15,536 || 35–16–2 || 72 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 54 || January 31 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–3 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 35–17–2 || 72

|- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 55 || February 2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–3 || Air Canada Centre – 19,326 || 35–18–2 || 72 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 56 || February 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || Prudential Center – 15,204 || 36–18–2 || 74 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 57 || February 6 || New York Rangers || 1–3 || Madison Square Garden – 18,200 || 36–19–2 || 74 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 58 || February 8 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 || Wachovia Center – 19,678 || 36–20–2 || 74 |- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB" | 59 || February 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 (OT) || Prudential Center – 5,580 || 36–20–3 || 75 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 60 || February 12 || Nashville Predators || 5–2 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 37–20–3 || 77 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 61 || February 13 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2–5 || RBC Center – 16,466 || 37–21–3 || 77

|- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 62 || March 2 || San Jose Sharks || 4–3 || HP Pavilion – 17,562 || 38–21–3 || 79 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 63 || March 5 || Calgary Flames || 3–5 || Pengrowth Saddledome – 19,289 || 38–22–3 || 79 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 64 || March 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 0–2 || Rexall Place – 16,839 || 38–23–3 || 79 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 65 || March 10 || New York Rangers || 6–3 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 39–23–3 || 81 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 66 || March 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 40–23–3 || 83 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 67 || March 13 || New York Islanders || 2–4 || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – 15,583 || 40–24–3 || 83 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 68 || March 15 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || Prudential Center – 15,801 || 41–24–3 || 85 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 69 || March 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 42–24–3 || 87 |- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB" | 70 || March 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–2 (SO) || Air Canada Centre – 19,183 || 42–24–4 || 88 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 71 || March 20 || St. Louis Blues || 0–1 || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 42–25–4 || 88 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 72 || March 23 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 6–3 || Prudential Center – 14,202 || 43–25–4 || 90 |- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB" | 73 || March 25 || New York Rangers || 3–4 (SO) || Prudential Center – 17,625 || 43–25–5 || 91 |- align="center" bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 74 || March 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–2 || Bell Centre – 21,273 || 44–25–5 || 93 |- align="center" bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 75 || March 28 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–5 || Wachovia Center – 19,769 || 44–26–5 || 93 |- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB" | 76 || March 30 || Boston Bruins || 0–1 (OT) || Prudential Center – 16,636 || 44–26–6 || 94

|- align="center" bgcolor="BBBBBB"