NEWARK, N.J. -The Devils held an optional morning skate, but one noticeable player absent was captain Nico Hischier. The team has listed him as questionable for the contest this evening against the Avalanche.
"He's been bothered now the last couple games with a lower-body (injury)," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "We'll see what tonight brings us. We're hoping he can play."
Frenemies
Devils defenseman Ryan Graves will be facing his former club for the first time in his career. Graves played 136-career NHL games over three seasons in Colorado.
"It's going to be weird at first," he said, "but once the game gets going the competitive nature will take over. The best way to do it would be to get a win."
Scout Report
Having played for the Avalanche for three years, Graves know all too well the firepower that the club's offense brings.
"They're dangerous offensively. It'll be important the way we manage the puck," Graves said. "If we feed their transition game, they're going to kill us with that. We need to frustrate them. Play our system really well, make sure we have numbers back and try to play a solid game that way."
Ruff echoed those sentiments.
"First, we have to be good with the puck. If we're good with the puck we can limit what they can do," he said. "So, it's making good plays. I think the best defense you can play is by playing good offense, by handling the puck yourself and limiting the amount of minutes that they have with the puck. But when they do have it we have to be diligent with the way we defend."
King Makar
The Avs are loaded with dynamic talent. But perhaps none more so than blueliner Cale Makar. The 23-year-old is in his third full season and already has 20 goals and 63 points in 53 games this season.
It's not out of the realms of possibility that Makar hits 30 goals this year.
"He's on pace for it," Graves said. "He's a good play. It's good to see. He's a good guy. He works hard. … I'm sure he'll get close to it."
Ruff compared Makar to Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey, in particular their skating, but with one caveat.
"I don't if Paul has quite the shot, he might be upset with me for saying that, the shot that Cale has," Ruff said with a laugh.
