BUFFALO, NY -After a game that went to a shootout on Saturday afternoon, the Devils are back at it again against the Sabres for another 1 p.m. ET game. It is the team's first back-to-back this season, in the middle of a busy week of games. As a result, Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff and his coaching staff will monitor their player's energy throughout Sunday's game.
"We'll look at some of those shifts, the energy that the players have," said Ruff pre-game. "If some guys are low in energy, obviously there were some players that played bigger minutes, maybe [we'll] manage the length of shifts and put in a situation where we play all four lines on a more regular basis."
Over the last three games the Devils have found themselves tied after the first two periods of play. Yesterday's game went to a shootout after both teams were unable to convert on many close opportunities not only in the third but also the overtime period. When asked about what would be the key to get over the hump, Ruff said being solid defensively is a huge part to it.
"We have to play solid defensively knowing that the other team's gonna create some opportunities but don't have our structure breakdown where it's a management issue or we give a block away that allows a bigger opportunity which happened in the Philadelphia game," said Ruff. "If you look at all games are a little different. If you look at the Philly game, and the opportunities we had to finish some key offensive plays, believe we had a post, we had a crossbar, those go in we are in the right position."
