Rivals
The Devils aren’t just facing any team. They’re facing their biggest rival in the New York Rangers tonight. Any time the Rangers come to town, the magnitude of the game amplifies.
“Yeah, they're playing pretty well, so going to be a good match for our group tonight, and we're excited,” center Jack Hughes said.
“They're off to obviously a great start, and anytime the Rangers come here, the building's jumping, it's alive, and it's a fun game,” defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic said. “So, we know we're in for a big challenge, and there's going to be a lot of emotion in the building tonight, and it's going to be a lot of fun.”
Rivalry aside, the Rangers have been one of the best teams in the NHL in the early going of the season and will be a challenge tonight.
“Well, the biggest reason why they're rolling is how they've been checking,” Keefe said. “They've been a very strong defensive team, as good as any in the league, really, in terms of how they've checked and make it real hard to get to their goaltender and generate offense. And we haven't done well against these types of teams here in terms of that style of play in the early going of the season, so it's a great challenge for us.”
Chisolm’s Chance
With Kovacevic’s return, Dillon has been the odd-man out on the third pair. The club has opted to keep blueliner Declan Chisholm in the lineup.
"I think it's less about what (Chisolm’s) done, quite honestly, and it's what we think he can do,” Keefe said of the decision. “I think he's a guy that was brought in here. Obviously, (general manager Sunny Mehta) brought him in, and there's great belief about what he can bring and want to give him opportunity to play every day and get confident and comfortable.
“The fact that he can skate the puck out in transition, get us out of trouble on our own end and through the neutral zone, just have a little bit better puck movements coming throughout our D core. We think he can help us in that regard, and I think he has. But it's a work in progress. We're going to keep looking at it, but I think with a guy like him that you brought in that's trying to evolve and sort of step into a role and get some traction in the league, we want to give him an opportunity to do so. So, I think getting him on the left side is an important piece of that in terms of his evaluation and get a true sense of where he's at. So, it's just natural with Kovi coming in, the numbers game, Dilly is the guy to come out.”
Back At It
Kovacevic made his season debut at Detroit on Tuesday night, playing in 16 minutes, after missing the opening five games of the season due to a knee injury. He dealt with a knee injury last season, and this time around was much better prepared to deal with the comeback.
“Honestly, easier this time because I learned from last time, you know? So there's a lot of lessons to be learned there,” he said. “It's not all bad. And just kind of knowing what I need to feel to feel ready, and hopefully hit the ground running this time as opposed to last year. I found it hard the first, I don't know, maybe even 15, 20 games. So, hopefully this time, take the lessons that I learned from last year and apply them this year.”
