Devils Eager for Game 6, Chance to Win Series | NOTEBOOK

The Devils held an optional practice at 1:45 p.m. ET at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House at Prudential Center. Miles Wood, Yegor Sharangovich, Curtis Lazar, Luke Hughes, Brendan Smith, Vitek Vanecek, and Mackenzie Blackwood were on the ice participating.
Devils forwards Nico Hischier, Erik Haula and Ondrej Palat, as well as head coach Lindy Ruff, spoke to the media on Friday about the upcoming Game 6, how certain players level up in the playoffs, and more. Read more in today's notebook below!

Game 6

First the first time in the Devils 2023 playoff run, they have the opportunity to close out a series. New Jersey has a 3-2 series lead after a
4-0 win at Prudential Center in Game 5
and can advance to the Second Round with a win in Game 6.
"It's a chance, first chance but we have to take it," Nico Hischier said on the opportunity to win their series. "We want it and I think we're prepared for it. We're excited for tomorrow."
"Whenever you have a chance that's when you want to play your best game," Erik Haula said about closing out the series. "The longer it goes, you just never know, and Game 7, it's a toss-up always doesn't matter what the teams are. Our focus is on Game 6 and our focus is to win that game."
The Devils started the series losing the first two games, but have rebounded with three straight wins due to adjustments and a strong belief in themselves.
"It's been great," Palat said about the Devils turn around with the series. "We've made some adjustments after Game 1 and 2, and it's been working. Everybody's on board, everybody's playing great hockey. But there's still room for improvement a little bit, and we got to be a little big better tomorrow because I'm sure the Rangers are going to be better too."
Throughout an extensive playoff career, Palat has learned what it takes to win that fourth game in a series and shared what the Devils will need to remember before Game 6.
"Everybody who's been through it will say it's the hardest thing to win that game and I can say the same thing," Palat explained about the hardest part of winning the fourth game of a series. "The Rangers are going to be ready, ready to win on their home ice and it's going to be the hardest one so we need to be even better than yesterday."

Playoff Players

Every team will see certain players step up their individual game in the post-season, and the Devils have seen that with veteran forwards Erik Haula and Ondrej Palat. Both were rewarded with goals in Thursday's Game 5 victory including Palat's goal 39 seconds into the game and Haula's power play and empty net goals.
"They've been great," John Marino said post-game about Haula and Palat. "Leaders for us the whole year and stepping up too when it matters the most. To see those guys get rewarded like that it's well deserved and they played unbelievable tonight."
For Haula, being able to be a productive playoff player is due to him embracing the opportunity and never overlooking how special of an opportunity it is.
"I always look at it as an opportunity to win," Haula said about personally embracing the playoffs. "I don't want to take it for granted ever. You never know when it's going to be your last game, you never know when it's going to be your last opportunity.
"I believe in this team," Haula also shared. "I think we have a really good group. I'm trying to be the best version of myself for our team."
Coach Ruff explained how Haula has been able to be so effective in the post-season as he leads the Devils with five points.
"I think it's a veteran player who has been in the wars before," Coach Ruff shared on Haula's post season success. "Understands that you only get so many opportunities, and I think he likes this time of year. He likes the moment he's in, he likes our team. He wants to be a guy anybody can count on."

Strong Defensive Structure

Throughout the regular season and over the last three games of the First Round, the Devils have used their speed with their defensive structure to be a shutdown team. New Jersey spent the first few weeks of the regular season focused on a stronger defensive effort this year which continues to pay off during these tight games against the Rangers.
"Good defense leads to good offense," Palat shared. "I think in this case that's what we can see. First couple of games we were playing kind of up and down with the Rangers with their skill power and those superstars they have it's pretty hard. So we need to play hard on them and play good defense. We're playing with speed now which has been great."
"I think we've been a pretty good team all-around this season defensively," Hischier said Friday. "Built some trust in the regular season in our d-zone structure. We know exactly when everybody is at the right spot it's going to be tough to create some chances against us. I think we just have to execute it."
"It's one of our strengths," Haula said. "I think we make it really hard for other teams when we're on top of the puck and tracking back, and are positionally sound. I feel like we've had that on display the last three games. There's still areas we can be better at for sure. Some of the areas we looked at today, but nobody's perfect. Overall we're happy with how we've played the last three games, we gave ourselves a chance to win, and we're looking to be better on Saturday because we know they're going to be."
"Especially against a team like the Rangers, you got to have good puck placement," Hischier explained. "If they're gapped up and you turn it over on the blue line it can get dangerous really fast and I think we understand that now and it's just playoff hockey too."

Strong Culture

The Devils have spent a lot of time over the last few seasons developing a winning mentality and culture in the locker room. This includes bringing in veteran players with playoff experience, drafting players that want to work in a team-first mentality, and cultivating a strong belief in the group. Haula, who has been to the playoffs every season of his career, has seen the growth of a special group with this year's Devils.
"It's vital," Haula said on the importance of a strong culture with the Devils. "I think you look at the teams that win and go far and they're a family. I feel like we've built something pretty special here this year. We have a great locker room, we have a great group of guys and I think it shows on the ice. We have fun with each other and we're happy for each other I think that's a big part."
Throughout the playoffs whether the Devils were down by two games or now up with a 3-2 series lead, Devils head coach Lindy Ruff has explained the importance of enjoying the playoffs.
"I think in hockey it's everything," Coach Ruff explained about the importance of camaraderie. "Enjoying some of the big plays inside of games, whether it's the hits, whether it's the blocked shots, the big saves. Even the fight where everybody's up on the bench. It's that time of year where you know that all the little things can make the biggest difference."

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- GAME STORY: Devils Dominance Pushes Rangers to the Brink - COLUMN: - GAME BLOG: Re-live the biggest moments from the Devils Game 5 Win - FEATURE: Big Time Player