Devils Practice in Seattle Ahead of Sunday's Matinee | NOTEBOOK

The Devils are practicing at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle ahead of tomorrow's matchup against the Kraken at noon local time (3:00 PM ET).

Stay tuned to the notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

On the Ice

Mere hours after a win on Friday night in Vancouver, the Devils are back at it in preparation for the final game of their four-game road trip Sunday in Seattle.

In terms of line combinations and defense pairings, no changes from the last few games:

Meier - Hughes - Bratt
Palat - Hischier - Mercer
Dadonov - Cotter - Brown
Gritsyuk - Glass - Hameenaho

Siegenthaler - Pesce
Dillon - Hamilton
Nemec - Kovacevic
(Lammikko - White)

Markstrom/Allen

Managing the Chaos

The final minutes of the Devils' victory in Vancouver were, to put it mildly, heart-pounding. What looked like a comfortable win turned into a scramble as the Canucks pushed hard, creating a frantic end-game scenario. For the Devils' leadership group, the takeaway wasn't just relief at the victory, but a critical look at why things got loose.

Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic acknowledged the frenetic pace, noting that the team needs to internalize the lesson immediately because the league is unforgiving.

"We gotta learn from that," Kovacevic said. "Obviously, it was a little chaotic, but we have guys that have a good head on our shoulders. We know that's not how we wanna play, and I feel like hockey has a funny way of putting you in similar situations again and again."

The issue, interestingly enough, stemmed from a positive trait: unselfishness. Kovacevic pointed out that in the dying moments, players were perhaps looking to set each other up rather than making the safe, simple play to clear the zone.

"I think we're probably being a little too unselfish at the end, trying to get everyone involved, which shows how close the team is," Kovacevic explained. "But maybe learn from that and just take the simple play... prioritize blue lines, getting it over the line, stops and starts."

It’s a paradoxical challenge for a coaching staff, telling a team that is "too close" to stop trying to help each other score. But in high-leverage situations, the "me-first" play of clearing the puck is often the most team-oriented action available.

"In that situation, putting the team first is maybe taking it yourself," Kovacevic added.

Forward Jesper Bratt agreed, noting that fatigue and a deviation from their usual structure allowed the game to open up dangerously.

"I think that maybe last game, we got away from [managing minutes] a little bit and started playing a little bit more on the outside," Bratt said. "It was a lot of offensive opportunities, so maybe that kind of threw the whole game off a little bit... We had some tired guys on the ice, and I think that kind of broke down the structure a little bit."

Building Bonds on the Road

For a team looking to make a playoff push, the schedule makers provided a hidden gift: a long Western road trip with significant downtime. While the travel is grueling, the gaps between games offer a rare opportunity for organic team bonding.

For Kovacevic, who is experiencing his first extended road trip after returning from injury, the time away has been invaluable.

"This is the first one where you really get to spend time with the guys," Kovacevic said. "When you're on the road, especially coming out west, there's a lot of downtime. In Vancouver, [we had] two days between a game. So when we're getting wins and we get to spend time together, I think it really pulls us together as a group."

The camaraderie was audible even during the interview, as teammates—specifically the "Russian guys yelling"in the background—interrupted Kovacevic's session, leading to laughs. It’s these small, unscripted moments of joy that translate into better performance on the ice.

"It just pulls us together... we're a group that enjoys spending time together," Kovacevic said. "It just makes it that much easier going out there and going to battle with guys that you're so close to."

Bratt echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the feeling of winning with this specific roster is a powerful motivator.

"Winning with this group is just an amazing feeling, so that's where we want to continue on," Bratt said.

The 'Lenni' Effect

One of the most significant developments on this trip has been the emergence of rookie Lenni Hameenaho. Inserted into the lineup to provide a spark, the youngster hasn't just survived; he has helped stabilize the team's depth, allowing the Devils to roll four lines with confidence.

Bratt was effusive in his praise for the rookie, noting that Hameenaho's impact goes far beyond just energy and is about execution and detail.

"That line has been playing great hockey. It's been fun to watch,"Bratt said. "They all come in with great energy. Their whole body language has been great, and they just bring that positive energy to the team."

What has impressed the veterans most is Hameenaho's maturity. He isn't playing like a rookie who is happy to be there; he's playing like a veteran who understands the nuances of the defensive zone and transition play.

"His attention to detail has been really good,"Bratt observed. "Both ends of the ice, he's been creating a lot of offense... playing really good, responsible in the D-zone. I think just the chemistry overall in that line has been great."

This depth is crucial for the Devils' strategy of wearing teams down. As Bratt noted, the ability to have "flow over four lines" is what drives their success, preventing them from having to over-rely on the top six forwards and keeping everyone fresh for those late-game battles.

The Patience Game

Looking ahead to the Seattle Kraken, the Devils are preparing for a different kind of challenge. Unlike the high-flying Oilers or the skilled Canucks, Seattle is known for a suffocating, persistent style of play that requires immense patience to break down.

Bratt described the upcoming matchup as a "patience game,"where the Devils must be comfortable playing in a scoreless deadlock without forcing risky plays.

"We're playing a team that is gonna be ready... to play a zero-zero game,"Bratt said. "It's just gonna come down to us playing that mature game... just kind of like play smart in the neutral zone again st a lot of fast, skilled teams and not feeding their offense."

Kovacevic, having watched Seattle's forecheck, emphasized the need for five-man defensive integrity.

"They're a team that really stays on top... doesn't give you much," Kovacevic analyzed. "Staying patient... staying true to this identity we're building over this last little bit, which is being hard defensively, defending as a group of five."

The goal is clear: don't force offense that isn't there. If the Devils can maintain their structure and rely on the depth that Hameenaho and others are providing, they have a chance to head back to New Jersey with a perfect road trip record.

"That was the goal already going into the road trip," Bratt said of the potential sweep. "We've been just building and building all the time."