MORNING SKATE RECAP
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Devils did not hold a morning skate due to play the Penguins in the afternoon. Head coach Sheldon Keefe did meet with the media beforehand.
Lineup Switch
The lone change the Devils are making to their lineup is scratching forward Erik Haula in place of Daniel Sprong. The club used the following workflow at Friday’s practice…
Meier – Hischier – Noesen
Palat – Mercer – Tatar
Sprong – Glass – Bratt
Cotter – Lazar – Bastian
Hughes – Pesce
Dumoulin – Kovacevic
Dillon – Nemec
Keefe said the move wasn’t due to Haula’s recent play, which he praised, but because the Devils are trying to figure out ways to keep players involved with the added depth that the team has.
Dumoulin the Defender
The Devils made several acquisitions with the NHL trading deadline, including bringing in left-hander Brian Dumoulin from Anaheim. The 10-year veteran and two-time Stanley Cup champion has help solidify the defense in the absence of injured blueliner Jonas Siegenthaler.
“He's been solid,” Keefe said. “Bringing Dumoulin in really helped snapped things back into place. Get (right hander Brian) Pesce back on his right side. I think that’s been really important. The minutes he brings and more important how it settles our D corps here.”
Despite the addition of the Dumoulin, the team still misses Siegenthaler, who was injured in Pittsburgh during a game on Feb. 4.
“A defenseman like Siegs is generally underrated in terms of what he does on the daily. It doesn’t jump off the page if you’re not watching us all the time. I can tell you as a coaching staff and amongst teammates, he’s a very, very valuable player for us. He’s been our most consistent and reliable defender in terms of killing plays, penalty killing, taking on the toughest matchups, the influence that he brought to Kovacevic and that group working together. It was a tough loss.
“We certainly miss Siegs.”
Scouting the Enemy
The Penguins have won three straight games heading into the matchup with the Devils. Goalie Tristan Jarry has won all three after being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. The Penguins also still have star players in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson.
Keefe: “When you come into Pittsburgh it’s been the same for many years now with the strength they have down the ice. That’s what stands out. Their defense as well. They’ve got the two veteran centers, they ‘ve got the two veteran defenders that can hurt you on offense and in transition. They stress you that way to manage the puck. Goaltending has been strong for them of late too, which has given them a chance to win and compete in every game. So we’ll have to contend with that today.”
Inside Scouting
The Devils have a few former Penguins players on their current roster. That includes Dumoulin, who played eight seasons in Pittsburgh, and center Cody Glass, who was a member of the Penguins only a week ago before being traded to New Jersey.
Despite the players close proximity, the Devils did not pick their brains on the Penguins, instead relying on their own staff’s pre-scout work.
“I’d like to think we’re on top of it pretty good with the scouting stuff,” Keefe said. “But it’s more so right now with so many new players coming in, we’re just talking about our game by and large. Who to be aware of and what to be aware in terms of how they generate offense. In terms of the details of it, we’re in and out to play one game. Most important is staying with what’s been working for us.”
