NEWARK -- It was already a night of high emotions.
In what may have been his last game with the Devils, Patrik Elias had collected a pair of assists in what would be a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at Prudential Center. But his teammates wanted more, just in case this was a farewell to the franchise's all-time scoring leader.
"Palms (Kyle Palmieri) said, 'Let's get you one.' I said, 'I don't think there's enough time,' " Elias recalled.
But there was enough time. Elias received a pass from Palmieri and scored with 15.9 seconds remaining. It was his 408th career goal and 1,025th point. Not bad to go along with two Stanley Cups.
"It felt like one of those playoff goals. Not a clinching goal but one in those big games. I almost forgot how to score again. It's been a while," Elias reflected.
"It was just an overall great hockey game and a great night. And I know it was against a team that hasn't been playing that well, that has been out of the playoffs and was on the road with a lot of young guys. But no matter what the circumstances, you have to play the game."
The question now is was it his last game? That likely won't be decided right away. Elias will be 40 on Wednesday and his contract is up.
"I think it's going to be communication between me and Ray (Shero) first to see if there is even the possibility for me to come back," Elias said. "Then we'll go from there. I have to realize what it's going to take and see if the coach would even consider having me around the team.
"We'll see where we go. I hope this is not it, but it could be.
That is why he soaked in the atmosphere right from the start.
"Yeah, you have to enjoy it," he said. "It's a possibility that I'm not going to be playing (anymore). It's just reality. You have to face that. Maybe it's just the reality I might not be playing here. Who knows? All those things you consider. I loved it. It was a fun night."
Elias and Pavel Zacha clicked in the Czech rookie's NHL debut.
"I told them they should have brought Pavel in right from the get-go," Elias joked. "I think it was a fun night for him to play with me and for me to play with him. The chemistry reminded me a little bit of the way we played with Sykie (Petr Sykora). It just felt good. What a great night. So hopefully this is not it."
Elias described one moment during the second period.
"I was in the box on that penalty and the guy asked: 'So, you going to come back next year?' I saw Mr. Blitzer (Devils' co-owner David Blitzer) there in his seat and I said, 'You've got to ask that guy. You're asking the wrong guy,' " Elias joked.
It will actually be Shero and coach John Hynes who have the biggest say, unless Elias feels his right knee can no longer take the punishment.
If this was his final game, Elias did not disappoint. Over a potential Hall of Fame career, he rarely did.
Rich Chere may be reached at rchere@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ledger_NJDevils. Find NJ.com on Facebook