The New Jersey Devils' magic number refers to the number of points they need to secure in order to clinch a playoff spot in the National Hockey League (NHL). The magic number is calculated by subtracting the maximum number of points the team in ninth place in the conference can have from the Devils' current point total. If the Devils' magic number reaches zero, it means they have clinched a playoff spot. The concept of the magic number is often used in sports to determine the likelihood of a team making the playoffs. It allows fans, players, and management to track the team's progress and anticipate their chances of reaching the postseason. The magic number can fluctuate throughout the season as teams win or lose games.
Remaining games: 12 (5 home, 7 road).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Down in Philadelphia, the NL East-leading Braves became the first club to clinch a postseason berth with a 10-8, 10-inning win over the second-place Phillies in the first game of a doubleheader.
The magic number can fluctuate throughout the season as teams win or lose games. In the NHL, a team earns two points for a win and one point for an overtime or shootout loss. The team with the highest number of points in each division secures an automatic playoff spot, while the other wild card spots are determined based on the highest point totals among the remaining teams.
MLB magic numbers, schedules: Rangers, Mariners, Astros in AL West chaos (9/20/23)
The Astros, Rangers and Mariners are separated by a half game in the American League West with the regular season down to a week and a half, and one of them will miss the playoffs if the Blue Jays get in as a wild card.
The race has become tighter this week with the first-place Astros losing at home on Monday and Tuesday nights to the AL East-leading Orioles. The Rangers and Mariners, both winners on Tuesday, are a half game behind Houston and tied for the last wild-card spot.
The Rangers have the tiebreaker for now with a 5-1 lead in the season series, but the clubs have seven games remaining.
Elsewhere on Tuesday …
--The Twins are close to a first AL Central title since 2020. Their win and the Guardians’ loss has them up eight games with 10 to play for both clubs. Minnesota can have the division wrapped up as early as Thursday.
The Cubs stayed a half game ahead of the Marlins for the last NL wild-card position. Both clubs won on Tuesday, as did the Diamondbacks, who are a half-game lead on the Cubs for the second NL wild-card spot.
--The Reds dropped from a tie with the Cubs for the last spot to a game back with a loss to the Twins.
Here’s a look at magic numbers plus the remaining schedules for the contenders through Tuesday, Sept. 19, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Wednesday, Sept. 20:
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (95-56)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead Rays by 2.5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 9
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 17.
Games remaining: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Orioles schedule:
Sept. 20: at Astros (1)
Sept. 21-24: at Guardians (4)
Sept. 26-27: Nationals (2)
Sept. 28-Oct. 1: Red Sox (4)
TAMPA BAY RAYS (93-59)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail Orioles lead by 2.5 games. Lead Blue Jays by 8.5 games for first AL wild card. Lead Mariners and Rangers by 9.5 games for second and third AL wild cards.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Sept. 17.
Games remaining: 10 (5 home, 5 road).
Rays schedule:
Sept. 20-21: Angels (2)
Sept. 22-24: Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 26-27: at Red Sox (2)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Blue Jays (3)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (84-67)
Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Orioles by 11 games. Lead Rangers and Mariners by 1 game for second and third AL wild cards.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 11
Remaining games: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Blue Jays schedule:
Sept. 20-21: at Yankees (2)
Sept. 22-24: at Rays (3)
Sept. 26-28: Yankees (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Rays (3)
Standings: Fourth in AL East. Trail first-place Orioles by 19 games. Trail Rangers and Mariners by 7 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 5
Remaining games: 11 (5 home, 6 road).
Yankees schedule:
Sept. 20-21: Blue Jays (2)
Sept. 22-24: Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Royals (3)
BOSTON RED SOX (75-77)
Standings: Fifth in AL East. Trail first-place Orioles by 20.5 games. Trail Rangers and Mariners by 8.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 3
Remaining games: 10 (5 home, 5 road).
Red Sox schedule:
Sept. 20: at Rangers (1)
Sept. 22-24: White Sox (3)
Sept. 26-27: Rays (2)
Sept. 28-Oct. 1: at Orioles (4)
MINNESOTA TWINS (80-72)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Guardians by 8 games.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 3
Remaining games: 10 (6 home, 4 road).
Twins schedule:
Sept. 20: at Reds (1)
Sept. 22-24: Angels (3)
Sept. 26-28: Athletics (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Rockies (3)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (72-80)
Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place Twins by 8 games.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 3
Remaining games: 10 (6 home, 4 road).
Guardians schedule:
Sept. 20: at Royals (1)
Sept. 21-24: Orioles (4)
Sept. 26-27: Reds (2)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Tigers (3)
HOUSTON ASTROS (84-68)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Mariners and Rangers by 0.5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 11
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 11
Remaining games: 10 (4 home, 6 road).
Astros schedule:
Sept. 20: Orioles (1)
Sept. 22-24: Royals (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Mariners (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Diamondbacks (3)
TEXAS RANGERS (83-68)
Standings: Tied with Mariners for second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 0.5 games. Tied with Mariners for third AL wild card. Rangers hold tiebreaker.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 12
Remaining games: 11 (4 home, 7 road).
Rangers schedule:
Sept. 20: Red Sox (1)
Sept. 22-24: Mariners (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Angels (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Mariners (4)
SEATTLE MARINERS (83-68)
Standings: Tied with Rangers for second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 0.5 games. Tied with Mariners for third AL wild card. Rangers hold tiebreaker.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 12
Remaining games: 11 (7 home, 4 road)
Mariners schedule:
Sept. 20: at Athletics (1)
Sept. 22-24: at Rangers (3)
Sept. 25-27: Astros (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Rangers (4)
ATLANTA BRAVES (97-54)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second-place Phillies by 15 games.
Magic number to clinch NL East: Clinched Sept. 13.
Remaining games: 11 (7 home, 4 road).
Braves schedule:
Sept. 20: Phillies (1)
Sept. 21-24: at Nationals (4)
Sept. 26-28: Cubs (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Nationals (3)
Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Braves by 15 games. Lead Diamondbacks by 2.5 games for first NL wild card. Lead Cubs by 3 games for second NL wild card. Lead Marlins by 4 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 10
Remaining games: 11 (7 home, 4 road).
Phillies schedule:
Sept. 20: at Braves (1)
Sept. 21-24: Mets (4)
Sept. 26-28: Pirates (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Mets (3)
MIAMI MARLINS (79-73)
Standings: Third in NL East. Trail first-place Braves by 18.5 games. Trail Cubs by 0.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 5
Remaining games: 10 (4 home, 6 road).
Marlins schedule:
Sept. 22-24: Brewers (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Mets (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pirates (3)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (85-66)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 6 games.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: 6
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5
Remaining games: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Brewers schedule:
Sept. 20-21: at Cardinals (2)
Sept. 22-24: at Marlins (3)
Sept. 26-28: Cardinals (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Cubs (3)
CHICAGO CUBS (79-72)
Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 6 games. Lead Marlins by 0.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 11
Remaining games: 11 (5 home, 6 road).
Cubs schedule:
Sept. 20-21: Pirates (2)
Sept. 22-24: Rockies (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Braves (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Brewers (3)
CINCINNATI REDS (79-74)
Standings: Third in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 7 games. Trail Cubs by 1 game for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 10
Remaining games: 9 (4 home, 5 road).
Reds schedule:
Sept. 20: Twins (1)
Sept. 22-24: Pirates (3)
Sept. 26-27: at Guardians (2)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Cardinals (3)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (93-57)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Diamondbacks by 14 games.
Magic number to clinch NL West: Clinched Sept. 17.
Remaining games: 12 (5 home, 7 road).
Dodgers schedule:
Sept. 20: Tigers (1)
Sept. 21-24: Giants (4)
Sept. 26-28: at Rockies (4)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Giants (3)
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (80-72)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 14 games. Lead Cubs by 0.5 games for second NL wild card. Leads Marlins by 1 game for third NL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 10
Remaining games: 10 (4 home, 6 road).
Diamondbacks schedule:
Sept. 20: Giants (1)
Sept. 22-24: at Yankees (3)
Sept. 25-27: at White Sox (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Astros (3)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (76-75)
Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 17.5 games. Trail Cubs by 3 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 9
Remaining games: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Giants schedule:
Sept. 20: at Diamondbacks (1)
Sept. 21-24: at Dodgers (4)
Sept. 25-27: Padres (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Dodgers (3)
SAN DIEGO PADRES (74-78)
Standings: Fourth in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 20 games. Trail Cubs by 5.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 6
Remaining games: 10 (4 home, 6 road).
Padres schedule:
Sept. 20: Rockies (1)
Sept. 22-24: Cardinals (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Giants (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at White Sox (3)
CURRENT POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Baltimore Orioles (1), Houston Astros (2) byes
Texas Rangers (6) at Minnesota Twins (3)
Toronto Blue Jays (5) at Tampa Bay Rays (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Atlanta Braves (1), Los Angeles Dodgers (2) byes
Chicago Cubs (6) at Milwaukee Brewers (3)
Arizona Diamondbacks (5) at Philadelphia Phillies (4)
Note: Higher seed will host all games (from Oct. 3-5).
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
The New Jersey Devils have had varying levels of success in recent years, with several playoff appearances and even reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012. However, they have also experienced periods of rebuilding and missed the playoffs in certain seasons. Overall, keeping track of the magic number can be an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for fans, as it adds an extra layer of anticipation and gives them a tangible goal to root for throughout the regular season..
Reviews for "The Power of Nj Devuls' Magic Number"
1. Jane Doe - 1/5 stars - I found "Nj Devuls Magic Number" to be incredibly boring and confusing. The plot was all over the place, and the characters were underdeveloped. It seemed as though the author was trying too hard to be deep and mysterious, but it just ended up being convoluted and uninteresting. I struggled to finish the book, and in the end, I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.
2. John Smith - 2/5 stars - "Nj Devuls Magic Number" had an interesting concept, but it fell short in execution. The writing was mediocre, with clunky dialogue and repetitive descriptions. The pacing was slow, and the plot twists felt forced and predictable. Overall, I found the book to be lacking depth and originality. I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a captivating and well-written story.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations for "Nj Devuls Magic Number," but it didn't live up to the hype. The characters were one-dimensional and unrelatable, and the world-building was inconsistent. The book had potential, but the author failed to fully explore and expand on the intriguing premise. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I was left disappointed and wanting more from this novel.