"We've talked about getting through training camp and playing meaningful games and the day has finally arrived."
Finally, is right. 310 days after the last Devils game, Lindy Ruff will lead his club onto the ice against the Boston Bruins in his first game as head coach in New Jersey.
And for Ruff, he's not nervous but he certainly is excited.
"It really doesn't feel different for me," he said. "I can tell you 'm excited. I'm anxious to see what we're going to look like. I'm anxious to see how some of these young guys are gonna react and play against another team. I wouldn't even admit a little bit nerves, but you know, feel that we're well-prepared.
"I think that we like the way camp went and I watched a lot of hockey last night. I think you see some rust. I think you see mistakes, you see big scoring opportunities. I'm looking at this game that it's probably in some areas might be similar to those games."
And as the media found out on Thursday, his philosophy on lineups is hold them close to the vest until closer to puck drop. And so we won't quite know what the lines and pairings look like until warmups.
No matter who is on the ice, Ruff expects a competitive fire from each individual even if there's rust with the system play.
"I want to see the work ethic," he said. "I want to see the compete. I want to see those things first before I see system stuff. I think if you put the work in and you're competing in all areas of the ice, and then after that, your attention to detail.
"I don't want them out there thinking I want them out there playing. I want them going hard. I've used the term energy and enthusiasm. I want to see our guys play in the game on the toes and I want to see our young guys just out there playing, using what their best ability is."
It was an optional skate this morning, but no surprise that Mackenzie Blackwood was in the starter's net.
