It was a long time ago for New Jersey, but Devils have winning experience in short-season mode

NEWARK, N.J. – The end of the NHL lockout meant several players from several teams could finally work out with their mates Monday.

Slowly, all of the locker rooms will be filled with players from near and far, an official — albeit brief — training camp will be held, and teams will finally get to the business of trying to win the Stanley Cup.

Who has the advantage in a 48- or 50-game season? Who gets off to a fast start? Who stumbles out of the gate? All questions that will be answered in due time. For now, though, it's about these players getting on the ice.

Several New Jersey Devils, who helped lead the franchise to its fifth Eastern Conference crown in June, worked out Monday, and while thoughts of defending that title — or even winning the Stanley Cup — will soon surface, this organization, above all others, at least has firsthand experience of doing so.

In 1995, after a lockout-shortened 48-game season, the Devils went 16-4 and won their first Stanley Cup.