Devils Have Day Off Following Game 4 Win | NOTEBOOK

After picking up a 3-1 win at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the Devils have tied their First Round series with the New York Rangers at 2-2. With Game 5 on Thursday, New Jersey took the day off Tuesday.
"It's been a tough grind," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said about the Devils schedule. "When you look at it and you look at the one game went into overtime and you're playing four games and you're playing every other day. So when I look at it, it's a complete day away to just try to refresh and make sure that we have all the energy for the next game, for Game 5, because we know Game 5 it gets reenergized because both teams realize that now it's the best of three.
"Game 5 is a big game," Ruff continued. "I think they feel good because they've come into our building and won a couple games and we feel good because we've just come off of two wins in their building."
Devils forward Jack Hughes agreed with the importance of Game 5 and discussed bringing back the same effort on the road to Prudential Center on Thursday.
"A lot of resiliency," Jack Hughes said post-game about the Devils picking up two road wins. "But they took two in our building so we wanted to come in here and even the series up but we've been a really good road team all year. We need to bring that same effort, come back, and have a really good Game 5 at home."

Learning from the Past

According to Coach Ruff, the Devils failed to play to their strong defensive structure in Games 1 and 2 which became a big focus heading to the two straight away games.
"We knew, especially from Game 2, we had to play a lot better defensively," Ruff said. "Our structure, what we set out to do at the start of the year, we got away from it in Game 2 and some of it was a little bit when you get down by a couple goals.
"I thought we lost a little patience in that game and got away from our game."
In New Jersey's performance on Monday night, the team was defensively sound which frustrated the Rangers throughout the night. The Devils found their way and showed the style of play that was successful in the regular season.
"If you look at what we did in Games 3 and 4, you really focus on that," Ruff explained. "I think we came really close to our game. Our speed was good, we created some odd number rushes. We had guys in, transition game was good. I thought it was a pretty even game, Game 3. I thought we got more to our game in Game 4 where we really stayed on top of the puck."

Understanding the Playoffs

For a good chunk of this Devils team, the First Round is their first taste of the playoffs. With four games under their belt in a tough series against an experienced playoff team, New Jersey has learned what it takes to compete. It may be Jack Hughes' first taste of the NHL post-season but he is making an impact throughout these games as he's elevated his game,
"He knew that the level of competing was going to have to go up," said Ruff. "I think he understands that the playoffs, and I think all our players have a better understanding of how the playoffs (work). The level of intensity, the level of emotion, the highs are high, the lows are low, but you have to balance it.
"If you look, he's been involved physically," Ruff continued. "He's cut guys off and finished checks on big men. He's done a good job away from the puck in defensive responsibilities that maybe during the season, you would look for that quick offense. He stayed in good defensive posture and made sure that he supported the play. All the stuff that when it comes inside a playoff match, all the little one-percent things that by the end of the night if you take care of business that you're going to give yourself an opportunity to score and you won't get scored against."

Getting a MSG Welcome

It's not every day a player is boo-ed every time they touch the puck, but for Jack Hughes, that was the reaction he received through Game 4 at MSG.
"They got really passionate fans," Hughes said on the crowd at MSG. "Obviously you're doing something right if they're boo-ing you. It's not like I was growing up wanting to get boo-ed … I'm just playing."
Hughes has shown up strong in this playoffs, which understandably has frustrated the Rangers and its fans. For Hughes playing at MSG is an enviroment he loves to play in.
"I love playing at the Garden," Hughes shared. "Devils - Rangers, big time players show up at the Garden whatever sport that is. It's not about me though, I just gotta bring my game, continue to play well, and help the team win any facet I can."

Captain Leading the Way

Devils Captain Nico Hischier stood out this season with his strong play, great numbers offensively, and his leadership in the locker room. During the First Round, Hischier has continued to be a player the Devils can turn to every night to play well in all areas of the game.
"A lot like the regular season," Ruff explained about turning to Hischier. "We count on him for both sides of the puck, to play well defensively, get the tough assignments … He draws the tough assignment. We're asking him to be that guy that can be real responsible and then at the same time we're asking him to help provide offense. (He) made a great play to Siegenthaler on the winning goal."

In Case You Missed It:

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- GAME STORY: Devils Get Even, Series Moves Back to Jersey - COLUMN: Siegs the Moment - BLOG: Catch Up on the Big Moments from Game 4