For Devils' Finances, the Playoffs Are a Definite Plus The Devils may be on shaky ice financially, but they are getting a lift from their deep playoff run. The team sold out its allotment of single-game tickets for the Eastern Conference finals in 10 minutes on Thursday morning, even though it is unclear whether the Devils will play the Rangers or Capitals in the next round. The extra income should give the team a lift in the coming months as it continues to restructure its debt and search for investors to buy the 47 percent stake in the team owned by Michael Gilfillan. Fans who attend playoff games don't necessarily spend more than fans during the regular season. But the team makes more from tickets, concessions and merchandise sales because Prudential Center in Newark almost always sells out for playoff games. During the season, the Devils" average attendance was 15,396, which was 87.4 percent of capacity and 24th in the league. Though the N.H.L. controls most of the advertising, like the dasher boards, during the playoffs, the team gets to keep some signage. During the playoffs, fans also tend to buy more commemorative merchandise like shirts and hats. On the expense side of the ledger, the team does not directly pay players during the playoffs, a significant savings. Rather, players receive shares of the revenue generated during the playoffs from the N.H.L. The extra foot traffic in and around the arena has helped Newark, too. According to an economic impact study prepared by the Devils, an extra seven home playoff games generates more than $1.1 million in economic activity in the city, and nearly $1.5 million in Essex County.