Standing at the podium addressing the media after his team's 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe called out his top players. "Our best players have to be better," he said. "It is that simple. End of statement."

On Sunday against the Senators, the Devils did what coach Sheldon Keefe wanted after their crushing loss to the Flyers on Saturday — for about half of the game. Their offense was energetic — flying around the ice with and without the puck. They were patient in the offensive zone and put more pucks toward the net. All four lines equally contributed.

Since the last meeting between the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators in October, the Eastern Conference playoff race has begun to tighten up and take shape.