from Chris Ryan of NJ.com,
Their playoff run ended after five games with a first-round defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished off a 4-1 series win with a 3-1 Game 5 victory on Saturday at Amalie Arena.
The Devils made a positive step to get to the playoffs in 2017-18, but the postseason showed there is still work to be done.
Few people outside the Devils' locker room pegged them as a playoff team in 2017-18, yet they rode a red-hot start past several obstacles throughout the season, then used a red-hot finish to snap a playoff drought that dated back to 2012.
Following a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17, earning a playoff spot this season was a big jump for the franchise, which the team needs to use as a step toward more serious contention.
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