Devils Ready for Next Games | BLOG

After a week filled with practices and rest days, the Devils are ready to be back and playing games. However, players and coaches alike know the importance of this time practicing and focusing on areas the team needs to improve moving forward.
"It's been a lot different, you don't really have that opportunity during the year," Dawson Mercer said. "Usually I like playing a lot like going, going and I was enjoying it but it is nice to take some time, regroup and restart. After Christmas that's usually your time to come back at the second half. Now we have two of those occasions happening and we're happy to take that right now and finish off strong."
"Everyone's excited to start playing again, we had good days of practice working on things and I think we should be ready to play when it comes," Dougie Hamilton said. "When you're struggling a reset is good, good for everybody. Hopefully we can start off on a new page and see what we can do in the last months."

The weekend was focused on battle situations, shooting drills, special teams, and conditioning. Tuesday's final long practice rounded out the last areas the team need extra work on.
"Today (we worked on) 5-on-5, 5-on-4 we've worked on every day, and 6-on-5, all those areas," Ruff said. "Face-offs are important so went through face-off roles and where we want to get to. And on the offensive side just trying to create some chances too.
"The energy's been good. The practices have been longer. Today was longer but I don't think it was harder. There was a lot more discussion amongst groups on what they wanted to try to do. It was our last day of what we would consider a long practice. We'll be back down to the high energy in a short period of time starting tomorrow."
When the Devils resume game action, a back-to-back is on tap first with both games on the road. However, Ruff views this as a great opportunity to jump back into things quickly.
"I think it's a benefit. To play a game and then right away turn around and get ready to play another game, you get right into the grind," Ruff said. "We've been a pretty good team when it comes to being ready to play in tight situations."
"We want to have a strong start," said Mercer. "In the first period we want to come out fast, play good, and try to do what we can to take two wins out of those two teams on the road.
"Any team finds it tough when you get an extended break and that first game coming back is a game that sometimes takes a little time to get into the compete level and back up to speed, some of the stuff you can't simulate in practice. But everybody's looking forward to getting back to playing."