over the last calendar month (about a ~quarter of the season, as you mentioned), the Devils are 5-5-3 (13 pts in 13 games, or 0.5 ppg)
Vegas is 5-8-3 (13 pts in 16 games, or 0.41 ppg). Would you agree they are one of the better teams in the league overall, by all accounts?
Minnesota is 7-8-0 (14 pts in 15 games, or 0.47 ppg). Would you agree they are one of the better teams in the league overall, by all accounts?
Toronto is 7-6-0 (14 pts in 13 games, or 0.54 ppg). Would you agree they are one of the better teams in the league overall, by all accounts?
Colorado is 7-7-1 (15 pts in 15 games, or 0.5 ppg). Would you agree they are one of the better teams in the league overall, by all accounts?
Even Carolina is 8-5-2 (18 pts in 15 games or 0.6 ppg), which is okay but not GREAT. Would you agree they are one of the better teams in the league overall, by all accounts?
Again, this notion that "ONLY THE DEVILS HAVE STRETCHES LIKE THIS!" just is not true. You don't pay enough attention to what is going on in the rest of the league.
Now, I am EXCLUDING last night's game because that effort was unacceptable. Because I know that is going to be your first response.