"That was an unbelievable feeling just stepping on the ice for the first time and I felt just going through the game you feel more comfortable and confident and it was a great win for our team and a nice finish with the shootout," Mercer said.
Mercer's goal came in the third period when the rookie broke into the Washington zone by himself with three opponents in the area. He stickhandled to the wall as he awaited backup, then seeing his teammates were too far away he had the confidence to take the puck to the net surrounded by Capitals. A steep-angle shot went in off the goaltender and that was that.
Holtz's goal was an absolute laser of a shot from the faceoff dot in the second. It was not surprising to see the much-lauded shot that made him a top pick in the draft, but it was rewarding.
Tweet from @NJDevils: Alexander rippin' shots from the circle in DC. pic.twitter.com/a9se3XttNQ
"It was really fun," Holtz said. "I think it was a great pace out there. I think we played really good sometimes, getting some goals of course, but I think we played really good offensively and we had a lot of chances out there and we got the win, so that was what matters."
Through camp, beginning with the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, we've seen evolution and development from young players like Holtz and Mercer. Where in the first game in Buffalo, Holtz was firing shots every which way and not always hitting the net, his shots have been hitting more and more frequently as camp has gone along. Even in the game Wednesday night, Holtz talked about passing up on a shot earlier in the evening but then trusting his shot the next time he had an opportunity. The result? A big goal.
The Devils young talent is oozing confidence right now. It may be a few years before the franchise is reaping all the benefits of this talent, but for right now it's hard not to get excited about what is being built in Jersey.
