"[The coaching staff] wanted me to take a mental break," Butcher said. "They wanted me to watch things from up-top. I got a workout in during the first period, then watched the rest of the game. It's good sometimes to take a step back and re-evaluate yourself. One of the things [coach Hynes] stressed to me was playing with more pace and more assertiveness."
Butcher had five goals and 39 assists in 81 games in his rookie campaign. He currently has a goal and seven assists through his first 24 games this season. Coach John Hynes and the coaching staff sat down with Butcher prior to Monday's game to explain where they want to see his game grow.
"We had a great meeting with him," Hynes said. "He agreed with the assessment of his game. He has to play quicker, move his feet better in his transition play, going back for pucks. One of his greatest assets is his ability to move the puck. When he's skating, he has an opportunity to do that."
The 23-year-old defenseman will return to his regular pairing with Ben Lovejoy and will continue to quarterback the first wave of the power play.
"I would like to shoot more," Butcher said. "It's one of the things I worked on during the off-season. I've done it in some games, but I haven't done it in others. I think if I [have a shooting mentality] and play with a little more pace, everything else will fall into place."
With Tampa Bay in town, the Devils host a team they have struggled to beat this season. In their first two matchups, New Jersey were outscored 13-5.
"They're such a high-powered team," Taylor Hall said. "I feel like we gave them a lot of respect. We played a little tentative as the game goes on, when really, I think how you show respect to teams is going after them. Hopefully with the advantage of home ice we can play to our strengths a little bit more."
Forward Jesper Bratt, who has four points in the last four games, did not participate in morning skate due to illness. He will be a game time decision. If Bratt is unable to play, Hynes says he may elect to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, where Egor Yakovlev would draw in.
Keith Kinkaid will get the start in net while Tampa Bay will counter with Louis Domingue.
