MORNING SKATE RECAP
PITTSBURGH, PA - The Devils do not need to search far for motivation.
Three points separate them from Pittsburgh for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins enter the night riding a five-game winning streak. And New Jersey is coming off a loss that left no room for ambiguity.
Tonight at PPG Paints Arena offers the Devils a clear opportunity to respond.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe did not sugarcoat the challenge ahead, or the work required after the Islanders game.
“We have to get our game in order here,” Keefe said. “We need to play far better and harder and more connected than we did last time out. That’s what we’re focusing on.”
The message inside the room has been direct. The focus is not on standings math or streaks, but on reestablishing habits that had shown progress before the break.
“You want to make it obvious that you’re ready to go,” Keefe said. “Not just our work, but where our work takes us. Our structure and being in the right spots.”
Keefe emphasized that response does not always show up on the scoreboard immediately, especially against a team like Pittsburgh that is comfortable in tight games.
“We can’t get too focused on the result,” he said. “Whether it’s the scoreboard or the end result, we just have to play a good hockey game. If we play a terrible game and find a way to win, I don’t know if that helps us going forward.”
Searching For Identity
Instead, Keefe pointed to the identity the Devils are still trying to anchor.
“It starts with how we skate and work,” he said. “Seeing our legs moving. Sprinting to our spots. That leads to structure and support, and then our skill can come alive. The games we’ve played best are when we reduce the chances against and make it hard to get to our net.”
That defensive focus will be tested by a Penguins team that may welcome back Evgeni Malkin from injury and continues to lean on veteran experience through the middle of the ice with Sidney Crosby having an outstanding season, on pace for just shy of 50 goals at age 38.
Cody Glass knows the challenge well.
“They’re great,” Glass said. “A lot of veterans, some sneaky skill, some big players. It’s going to be a battle tonight. It’s a good test.”
Glass was candid about the Devils’ last outing.
“Brutal game,” he said. “Everybody’s seen it. It wasn’t a lot of guys’ best games, including myself. We’re looking to go prove otherwise.”
For Glass, response is not just about the opening push, but how the team handles adversity over sixty minutes.
“The first five minutes are huge,” he said. “But it’s also how you respond if they don’t go well, or how you respond if they do. Just being consistent throughout the whole game.”
He also spoke honestly about balancing his defensive responsibilities with the team’s need for offense.
“I’m a defensive center,” Glass said. “That’s been my role here. I just have to get back to playing the way I was earlier in the year. Don’t force things. Keep it simple.”
That theme of simplicity carries into the lineup. The Devils will ice an aggressive top six, with Nico Hischier centering Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, while Timo Meier skates with Dawson Mercer and Arseny Gritsyuk. Jake Allen gets the start in goal.
Nemec Returns
On the back end, the biggest change is the return of Simon Nemec, who slots in alongside Brenden Dillon.
Keefe made it clear Nemec is not being eased back in.
“He’s full go,” Keefe said. “He’ll play. We’re more healthy now than when he was playing previously.”
After missing extended time, Nemec’s goal is straightforward.
“I want to bring energy,” he said. “I want to play my game, the same game I played before my injury.”
Nemec acknowledged that timing will reveal itself early.
“I will see first period,” he said. “But I feel good. I skated a lot. I feel ready.”
He also admitted the frustration of being sidelined during a challenging stretch for the team.
“It’s always frustrating when you can’t play,” Nemec said. “Now I’m back, and I’m excited to play.”
For the Devils, excitement alone will not be enough. The Penguins are rolling, the playoff race is tight, and the margin remains thin.
“This is where you see what you’re built of,” Glass said. “It can go one of two ways. You grind it out and give yourself a chance, or you shut down. I think we have a really good group here and great leaders. I think it’s going to be a good response tonight.”
