NEWARK, NJ - On a day where the Devils are hosting the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center, half the club is on its way to Montreal. That club lines up as follows:
Coleman - Hischier - Palmieri
Seney - Rooney - Hayden
Gignac - McLeod - Bastian
Baddock - Street - Speers
Butcher - Severson
White - Tennyson
Mermis - Mueller
Blackwood
Cormier
Kyle Palmieri was asked what he likes to get out of those early pre-season games.
"For the most part you kind of want to get some timing down. Everything goes a lot faster than how you prepare in the summer and I think the two days of practice out here have been really up-tempo and that's something that helps a lot when you only have two days to get ready for your first game," Palmieri began, adding that the hard practices will ensure that the team is ready to go for these games.
"The way we practice kind of sets you up for success and just get out there and start getting back into the feeling of a game day and things like that is what you're looking for."
EVALUATION FOR TONIGHT
Devils head coach John Hynes won't be behind the bench for either game. He will be in Newark watching from above while Assistant Coach Rick Sawatzky is behind the bench against the Bruins.
In Montreal, Assistant Coach Alain Nasreddine will be manning the bench.
"It's actually not too big of an issue only in the sense that we have all of our Pro Scouts here and all our management is here," said Hynes. "So we're going to split down the middle. So the coaches that go to the Montreal game and management and scouts, they'll evaluate that game and then we'll evaluate the team that's here and we'll discuss the players, what they do and from my perspective I might watch certain shifts of particular guys or sort of game situations that we want to look at."
NO EXCUSES
Today's game in Montreal has a weird quirk where the team practiced at home in Newark and then hops on a plane north to play the Canadiens. It's much different from the usual game day routine and it's noticeable, says Palmieri.
"Yeah, it's tough. It's a long day," Palmieri began. "It's one of those things like you say you don't really have to deal with ever but I spent enough time in the minors that we we all had longer days and that's something that you just got to find a way to things aren't going to go your way as far as what you your normal game day routine.
"Being uncomfortable is what makes you better as a player and prepares you for different situations."
HABS LINEUP
Montreal announced its lineup for tonight as well:
Lehkonen - Domi - Drouin
Hudon - Suzuki - Weal
Cousins - Thompson - Weise
Varone - Evans - Barber
Mete - Weber
Kulak - Brook
Ouellet - Fleury
Price (Will play 30 minutes)
Primeau (Will play 30 minutes)
-- Marc Ciampa, NewJerseyDevils.com
