Devils Practice in Vancouver | NOTEBOOK

The Devils practiced in Vancouver ahead of Tuesday's game against the Canucks. New Jersey is riding a three-game win streak heading into this Western Canada road trip which also includes stops in Edmonton and Calgary. Following a 7-1 victory over the Blue Jackets on Sunday, the team flew out to the West Coast.
"When you spend five, six hours on the plane, (it's important) just to get out and get loosened up, and get refocused after playing a good game, it was good to get out this morning," said Devils head coach Lindy Ruff on Monday.
This is New Jersey's first three game road trip of the season, and being on the road brings some team bonding opportunities that are harder to get at home, while playing some challenging Western Conference teams.
"It's a good challenge for us, we're playing some good teams, we know the way we've played the last couple of games what our team has success when we play a certain way, and it's a good challenge for us," Jesper Bratt said about the team's Western Canada road trip. "You get to spend a little more time with the guys, you get to travel a little more, and have some dinners together so it's always a good time. We have some good games coming up, and we're just going to continue playing the way we did."

Videos From Monday's Practice
Post Practice Interviews:
Bratt
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Hughes
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Lindy Ruff
Devils Now:
Western Swing
Roster Depth and Competition For Spots
Below is the workflow the Devils used in Monday's practice.

For the Western Canada trip, the Devils brought three goaltenders - Vitek Vanecek, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Jonathan Bernier.
"To have three healthy goalies with where we were at last year, it's important that you have depth, that (Bernier) progresses," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said following practice about Bernier. "Eventually we'll get him in games, and you make a decision on when he's going to play again. But he's progressing and that's a great thing. I know he's optimistic about where he can get to and we're happy that he's at the point that he's at now."
Andreas Johnsson has joined the team for the Western Canada roadtrip after being recalled over the weekend. Johnsson has an opportunity to show his progression in Utica as he is fighting for a lineup spot on the Devils main roster.
"I think he's been able to watch and see how well the team has played, desparation in the team's game. I think that should be incentive for any player. I've heard nothing but good things about him going (to Utica), his attitude, how he played down there, and how hard he worked," Coach Ruff said about Johnsson. "If that opportunity comes where he gets in the game, just bring that mentality with you, bring up the passion, the work ethic, understand that the way we've been playing, if you play with speed, and you do the right things, a lot of good things will happen."
All Systems Go
One of the reasons the Devils are finding so much success with a 6-3-0 start is due to all areas of their game flowing together. Not having pressure on one particular system or position has given New Jersey more cohesion.
"I think it's a mesh of everything, like we're not really relying on a certain area of our game to carry us to win the game," said Damon Severson following practice. "When we needed a save, the goalie would make a save. When we needed a defensive play, our defense will step up. When we need goals, we've been able to put them in the net, so that's kind of been our story recently, it's just not relying on one specific thing in our game, it's just a little mix of everything and it's all coming together right now."
The Devils have seen huge improvements with goaltending and special teams this year, which brings confidence to the team.
"Special teams have been huge, our goaltending has been really good so far in the year, that brings a lot of confidence to the group," Bratt said Monday. "We know we have someone on the back end that's going to come up with those key saves. I think our penalty killing this year has been really, really good especially in the last couple of games, so that's something we keep building on. That energy factors into the whole team when you have a team playing like that so it's been a lot of fun."

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