The 2001–02 New Jersey Devils season was the 28th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 20th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. The Devils finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Fifty-one games in to the season, head coach Larry Robinson was fired and Kevin Constantine was named his replacement for their final 31 games. On April 13, 2002, the Devils clinched a sixth-place Conference finish and a third-place Division finish. The Devils came into the playoffs for the 6th consecutive season but they were upset in the Conference Quarterfinals by the eventual Eastern Conference champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, losing in six games.
Regular season
The Devils had the fewest power-play opportunities during the regular season, with just 261, and they tied the Washington Capitals for the fewest short-handed goals scored, with just two. However, the Devils were also the most disciplined team during the regular season, finishing with an NHL-low 265 power-play opportunities against.
Season standings
Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
(E6) New Jersey Devils vs. (E3) Carolina Hurricanes
The series opened in Raleigh. Carolina won Games 1 and 2, 2–1 – Game 1 in regulation and Game 2 in overtime. Games 3 and 4 were at the Meadowlands. The Devils won Game 3, 4–0, and Game 4, 3–1. Game 5 was back in Raleigh, where the Hurricanes won 3–2 in overtime. Game 6 shifted back to the Meadowlands, where Carolina prevailed 1–0 and clinched the series victory, 4–2.
Schedule and results
Regular season
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |1||L||October 6, 2001||1–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2001–02) ||0–1–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |2||L||October 11, 2001||4–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2001–02) ||0–2–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |3||L||October 13, 2001||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2001–02) ||0–3–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |4||OTL||October 17, 2001||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2001–02) ||0–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |5||W||October 18, 2001||6–1 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2001–02) ||1–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 20, 2001||3–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2001–02) ||2–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7||W||October 23, 2001||2–1 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2001–02) ||3–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |8||W||October 27, 2001||3–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2001–02) ||4–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |9||W||October 30, 2001||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2001–02) ||5–3–0–1 || |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |10||W||November 1, 2001||5–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2001–02) ||6–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |11||L||November 3, 2001||1–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2001–02) ||6–4–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||November 7, 2001||3–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02) ||7–4–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |13||W||November 9, 2001||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02) ||8–4–0–1 || |- align="center" |14||T||November 10, 2001||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02) ||8–4–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |15||L||November 13, 2001||1–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02) ||8–5–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |16||OTL||November 15, 2001||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2001–02) ||8–5–1–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |17||L||November 17, 2001||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02) ||8–6–1–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |18||L||November 18, 2001||0–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (2001–02) ||8–7–1–2 || |- align="center" |19||T||November 20, 2001||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02) ||8–7–2–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |20||L||November 23, 2001||0–2 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02) ||8–8–2–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 24, 2001||5–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2001–02) ||9–8–2–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |22||L||November 27, 2001||0–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02) ||9–9–2–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |23||L||November 30, 2001||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2001–02) ||9–10–2–2 || |-