Walking on Solid Glass
The Devils have regularly rolled through four lines in the opening four games of the season. And for all intents and purposes, they have a top-6 and bottom-6. They don’t have a clear first or second line because either Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier’s line could be considered No. 1. As for the bottom-6, there really isn’t a “fourth line” as the Cody Glass and Evan Rodrigues threesomes essentially operate as third lines. And the equally divided minutes between the Glass and Rodrigues lines speak to that.
Glass’ line in particular has been very effective with his steady defensive responsibleness down the middle and the speedy Jesper Boqvist and Amadeus Lombardi on the edges.
“I think it's been great. I think there's a lot of speed,” Glass said. “Having a good forecheck and then gaining zone entry and being able to play in the O zone, I feel like we've become more noticeable. And so, the past few games we've done a good job of that, and that's something our line needs to have too as like an identity, is playing fast, putting it deep. And the more times we do that, the more time we'll play in the O zone. And like I say, if we're playing in the O zone, we're probably doing a good job defensively, so the more ice time will come.”
Enemy Scout
The Devils are facing a hot Senators club which is 4-1-0 to open the season. Ottawa plays a stymying defensive style and goalie Linus Ullmark is there to slam the door shut. They can be a frustrating team to play against and it will require a lot of dumping the puck and attacking with the forecheck.
“I think they clog it up a lot, so I think it's going to be a lot of plays behind them,” Glass said. “We have a lot of speed on this team, so to be able to just get on the forecheck, get pucks back, and kind of just have that tutorial or that battle of who's going to win the offensive zone time is going to be a very strong test for us. And that's what we're looking forward to. We want to play hard games and stuff that feels like playoff hockey, so I think it's going to be good.”
The Devils are a speed with that likes to play off the rush. It will require patience to adapt their style with a dump and chase as opposed to a free skating. That patience will be key.
“I just think our management of the puck, our discipline to play the style we need to play to beat this team,” Dillon said. “There's 32 teams that play 32 variations or different styles of game, and that's why people joke and say all the time that the Stanley Cup's the hardest trophy to win because you have to beat the different styles of game, the hard-checking teams, the physical teams, the speed teams, the skill teams. So, this is one of those teams that they pride themselves on how hard they work, on how hard they work with their sticks and checking, but in turn, they've got the skill to make you pay. The Stutzles, the Bathersons, the Cousins, they can score goals too.”
