Fresh off back-to-back victories over the Rangers and Islanders, the Devils take on the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins tonight at the Prudential Center. But instead of looking at the game as a chance to measure his team against a potential playoff opponent, Brent Sutter is concerned only with keeping its play at a high level.
“I guess you always say there’s measuring sticks, but for me, it’s more just continuing to play well,” Sutter said yesterday. “I get more focused on our own team and what we have to do and how we have to to play. When we do things the right way, we always seem to do well.”
With their recent wins over their local rivals, the Devils have surged to an eight-point lead in the Atlantic Division over the Rangers and Flyers, and have moved into a tie with the Captials for second place in the conference.
“I think when we’re up to our standards . . . we can compete and play with anybody,” Sutter said. “It’s responding, going out there and doing it, and the last two games at home we’ve certainly played some pretty darn good hockey. Now we have to continue that.”
One significant development yesterday was Martin Brodeur getting on the ice again. The future Hall of Famer, who has been out since Nov. 1 with a left biceps injury, was on the ice for the first time since Monday’s morning skate. He was the only goalie on the ice for the optional practice.
“I feel pretty good. . . . It’s good to get back into it a little bit,” Brodeur said. “I’m ready to go for practice now, just not ready to play. . . . I still feel it a little bit.”
In order to continue to get Brodeur on the ice and practicing with the team, Sutter said Brodeur probably will accompany the team to Florida next week when it meets the Panthers and Lightning.
“How much we’ll practice, I don’t know. . . . That’s kind of a day-to-day thing, but there’s some things we can do with certain guys we can do with Marty, and that way he can stay on the ice and keep going,” Sutter said.
Brodeur didn’t want to pinpoint when he will return to the Devils lineup, but felt it would be in 2-3 weeks.
“It depends on how I feel,” Brodeur said. “It’s been tough enough for me not to play. I don’t want to start putting more stress into it.”
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After missing Wednesday’s game against the Islanders with sinus inflammation, Mike Rupp said he was 100 percent. Sutter said Rupp should be ready for tonight’s game, and that a decision would be made today.
tbontemps@nypost.com