NEWARK Custom Arizona Coyotes Jerseys , N.J. (AP) It would be easy to say the New Jersey Devils are back after ending a six-year playoff drought.John Hynes’ team went from last in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17 to the postseason in less in the year, riding a career year by left wing Taylor Hall and outstanding first seasons by No. 1 overall draft pick Nico Hischier and Will Butcher. This was a team that made it tough on opponents almost every time it stepped on the ice.The standings said it all. New Jersey went from 28 wins and 70 points to 44 wins and 97 points.Still, it was only good enough to outlast the hard-charging Florida Panthers in the closing weeks of the regular season and get the No. 8 seed.The Devils discovered that playoffs were another level. They were eliminated by Tampa Bay, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, in five games.”Of course, we’re disappointed,” veteran center Travis Zajac said Tuesday as the Devils cleaned out their lockers. ”But we accomplished a lot as a team. This is just the beginning. I like how we come together as a team. We faced a lot of adversity, but we survived. Because the league is so close and it’s going to be that way again next year, we have to continue to get better.”The Devils have ridden a roller-coaster in Hynes’ first three seasons as coach. They exceeded expectations in his first year, plummeted two years ago and then stunned the league in getting back to the playoffs.”You have no idea of how good I feel about what we did this year,” said captain Andy Greene, who like Zajac was with the Devils when they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. ”We were a lot better. The way we competed every game down the stretch. We were fighting for each other. We were picked last in the division and last in the conference. We took that to heart. It’s all part of the process. You don’t go from the bottom to the top unless you work hard.”Hall carried the Devils this season www.officialbruinsproonline.com , scoring points in 26 straight games in which he played. He finished with 39 goals and 54 assists. His 93 points were 41 more than the next closest player on the team, Hischier (20 goals, 32 assists).”I knew he was a really good hockey player, but it was nothing like what I saw this year,” said forward Marcus Johansson, who was limited to 29 games by concussions. ”He was unbelievable day in and day out.”If Hall can match next season and young players like Hischier, Butcher, Myles Wood, Blake Coleman and Jesper Bratt improve and the work ethic remains the same, the Devils can easily make it back to the playoffs next season.Here’s some things to watch next season:GOOD GOALTENDING: The Devils have two starters. Backup Keith Kinkaid had 16 wins in the final two months to secure the playoff berth. Cory Schneider, who lost the starting job after groin and hip injuries in January, was outstanding in the playoffs after taking over for Kinkaid in the second game.FREE AGENCY: General manager Ray Shero has three big decisions with unrestricted free agents: forwards Patrick Maroon and Michael Grabner and defenseman John Moore. Maroon Boston Bruins T-Shirts Authentic , who like Grabner was acquired in a deal near the trading deadline, played better and provided a net-front presence. Moore might be let go to create space for youngsters Mirco Mueller and Steven Santini.Blake Coleman and Stefan Noesen, who were the wings on the checking line with Zajac, are restricted free agents along with Wood, who had 19 goals. Expect them back along with Santini, another restricted free agent.HISCHIER: The 19-year-old can play. He’s not in the same class as Connor McDavid or Austin Matthews. Still, he does all the little things and he will score more if he starts hitting the net.DEFENSE: For the second straight year the Devils gave up 244 goals. That’s too many. Sami Vatanen, who was acquired from Anaheim, helped the defense and was Greene’s partner on the top pair. The defense needs a star and Shero may go after the Capitals’ John Carlson.—Associated Press freelancer Jim Hague contributed to this report.— A year ago, the New Jersey Devils learned that a fast start can build the foundation for a successful season. Looking to replicate that, the Devils seek a fourth consecutive victory Tuesday night when they host the Dallas Stars at Prudential Center.The Devils (3-0-0) won their first three games last season, as well. They also earned wins in six of their first seven games Boston Bruins Hoodies Authentic , and nine of 11, setting the stage for a 97-point campaign and the organization’s first playoff appearance in six years.“It’s huge because it gives you breathing room, a bit more space, and our start last year really propelled us to maintain that strong play all season long,” said Devils alternate captain Taylor Hall. “You have to bank wins whenever you can, and it’s especially nice to do so right at the start of the season.”Article continues below ...New Jersey has taken a page from last year’s playbook by beating the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks in succession, so far, this season, outscoring the opposition 14-4.Kyle Palmieri is a driving force behind the strong start, scoring two goals in all three games. His six goals place him among the early league-leaders and well ahead of last year’s pace when injuries slowed him early on and he didn’t score his sixth goal until December.“I’m always confident in my shot, but I think it’s fortunate they are going in for me right now Boston Bruins Hats Authentic ,” said Palmieri. “See how long we can keep that going.”New Jersey comes off a 3-2 win over the Sharks on Saturday, one in which they rallied from a one-goal deficit in the third period. Palmieri scored the tying goal and waiver-wire pickup Jean-Sebastien Dea scored the winner on a rebound.Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid, who is ably filling in for the injured Cory Schneider, stopped 37 of 39 shots Saturday and has a 1.33 goals against average, .949 save percentage and one shutout this season.The Stars (3-2-0) started off with a four-game homestand and won three times before heading out on the road and dropping a 4-1 decision to the Ottawa Senators on Monday. John Klingberg scored a first-period power play goal, extending his point streak to five consecutive games to start the season. Alexander Radulov assisted on the goal and has points in five straight, as well. Radulov’s 10 points are tied for most on the team with Tyler Seguin.Dallas went 1-for-4 on the power play Monday and is 7-for-13 the past four games. Team captain Jamie Benn has three power play goals, while Klingberg has two.Last year, the Stars had a decent start, winning seven of their first 12 games, but ended up missing the playoffs for the third time in four years, finishing three points out of eighth place.“We talked about it during the offseason Custom Boston Bruins Jerseys , during training camp, we wanted a good start this year,” Seguin told the Stars’ website. “We got that at home, and now we have to focus on our road record.”Winning on the road is a point of emphasis with the Stars. Last season, the Stars had only 16 road victories. “If you want to be a playoff team, you have to be .500 on the road, at least,” first-year Stars coach Jim Montgomery told reporters on Monday night. “I didn’t think we managed the game (against the Senators) really well for being on the road.”Dallas will be without Martin Hanzal (back) and Stephen Johns (concussion) on Tuesday, while the Devils will play without Schneider (off-season hip surgery) and Jesper Bratt (fractured jaw). Devils center Nico Hischier is expected to play despite leaving practice early Monday with a sore foot after blocking a shot against the Sharks.Anton Khudobin likely will start in goal for the Stars after Ben Bishop made 20 saves in Monday’s loss.Last season, the teams split the two-game season series with each club winning on home ice. New Jersey’s Brian Boyle had three goals against the Stars, while Radulov netted a pair against the Devils.