BUFFALO, NY - More offense.
Everyone wants it, but you can't just snap your fingers and make it appear.
The Devils peppered the Sabres with 42 shots but only had one goal to show for it on Tuesday. As they turn their attention back to Buffalo tonight, the focus is on finding twine with some of those opportunities.
"I think getting it low to high quick and not waiting to pass it and make the plays," Devils forward Michael McLeod said of generating more goals. "I think, especially for a line like ours, getting to the net right away and getting in front and really trying to get in front of the goalie like that, look for tips, and get more screens and stuff like that and get to the dirty [areas]."
They don't all have to be pretty. But there's a team on the other side too trying to stop the Devils from creating those types of chances, and the Sabres have been pretty good at it, taking three of the first four meetings this season.
"I think that their D play hard in front kind of boxing us out," McLeod said. "So it's going to be a battle getting in behind them and creating the screen or getting a nice fly-by screen and stuff like that. But I think for us, it's going to be parking in front and getting a few options off by the side and creating havoc like that. We're going to have to get at least one goal like that tonight."
NOT YOUR AVERAGE FOURTH LINE
McLeod is a part of the Devils fourth line that has not been a regular crash-and-bang checking fourth line. They can be downright lethal at times.
Miles Wood has five goals, Bastian has one, and McLeod has three.
"Yeah, we like to think ourselves as more of the energy line. That's our goal, trying to get the team going and if we need some energy, get some hits down low and create havoc in their end or quick break stuff like that, win face offs. So yeah, just try and be reliable and create energy."
Seems like the perfect trio to bank a much-welcomed greasy goal tonight.
