Devils Focused on Playoff Push

If you've been under a rock for the last couple of months it might be surprising to hear that the Binghamton Devils are in the thick of the AHL playoff race. After a rough start to the season the Devils are now within just a single point of the final playoff spot in the North Division. Binghamton is on a 4 game winning streak which includes two wins over the Atlantic Division leader Hershey Bears and two very important wins over the Toronto Marlies who currently holds the final playoff spot in the North Division. This has all been during a period of flux in the Devils organization where guys have been traded in out and moved up and down. Binghamton has had to withstand the call-ups of key contributors such as Joey Anderson, Nick Merkley, Dakota Mermis and Cory Schneider to New Jersey and that's just in the last couple of weeks. With the NHL trade happening Monday, more lineup changes are undoubtedly on the way. Binghamton Head Coach Mark Dennehy says despite all that, the depth of players they've seen step up to contribute has kept their playoff hopes alive.
"That's where your depth really comes in to play," says Dennehy. "That's where foundations come into play and I think this group as a whole has really embraced how we need to play. When we play that way we've had success. There's not too many guys in this organization that haven't been here at some point. So even the call-ups have an idea of how we want to play and have been able to kind of hit the ground running."
One of those guys stepping up has been forward Jesper Boqvist. The 21-year-old played 34 games with New Jersey this season before being assigned to Binghamton. He's been on a tear of late notching 7 points in Binghamton's last 4 games. He says every guys that's here right now is focused on one thing, and that's making the playoffs.
"I think we're working towards the same goal, everyone wants to be there," says Boqvist. "We keep everything simple and work to the same goal."
The Devils are home this weekend as they welcome in the Charlotte Checkers. Puck drop is set for 7pm both tonight and tomorrow night at the Arena.