Reset Button
Keefe described Tuesday as a “reset,” not because of one player, but because of the collective response.
“We’ve got foundation and structure,” he said. “It just kind of gets away from it over the course of time. Yesterday was a real reset for us. It’s coincidental that Pesce is coming back at the same time, but certainly it’s time for the penalty kill to start being way more consistent.”
That reset will be tested immediately. Even without Eichel and Theodore, Keefe sees plenty of danger across the Vegas lineup.
“Really good power play team, lots of great players here today,” he said. “They’ve got lots of threats, so we’re going to be put to the test. We’re hoping to see our guys way more assertive.”
Finding Energy on the Road
The Devils last saw Vegas recently and, despite the result, Keefe liked stretches of the game. The challenge now is replicating that level away from home, in a building that feeds energy to the home side.
“We’ve got to use the energy that comes with playing in this building to our own benefit,” Keefe said. “Travel delays, getting in late, time change — not a normal game day. So have a great warmup, get the energy, feed off it and get a good start.”
He pointed directly to recent starts as the line of demarcation.
“We were hesitant and slow the last time we played these guys. We were hesitant and slow against Vancouver,” Keefe said. “We were not hesitant at all against Anaheim. That’s the message. Be ready to skate and work right from the beginning.”
Individual Growth, Team Impact
Pesce’s return also intersects with growth elsewhere in the lineup. Keefe praised Luke Hughes’ recent play, noting that the points finally matched the process.
“He’s been in those spots a fair bit. Pucks were getting blocked or missing the net,” Keefe said. “It’s great to see those fall. His overall game has been very good — consistent, good defensively, moving the puck well in transition.”
Up front, patience remains the theme with Jesper Bratt.
“He’s been in alone and hit posts, hit the shaft of the goaltender’s stick,” Keefe said. “Last season, he scored on a lot of those. Stay with it. Don’t let it consume you to the point it breaks down other areas of your game.”
Opportunity on Both Benches
Cassidy echoed a similar message from the Vegas side, framing the absences as opportunity rather than excuse.
“Other guys probably want to own a little bit more,” he said. “We still gotta play the same team game. First thing we gotta do is defend well, play well in front of our goaltender.”
For the Devils, the opportunity is clear: reestablish habits, regain confidence, and let Pesce’s return strengthen the group without expecting him to solve everything at once.
As Keefe put it, “It means a lot to our team — but we can’t just sit back and say everything’s going to snap back into place.”
