SHELDON KEEFE MEDIA AVAILABILITY
NEWARK, NJ - The Devils did not hold a morning skate with playing on the second half of back-to-back games. Head coach Sheldon Keefe did address the media.
Debut
From a lineup note, defenseman Topias Vilen will make his NHL debut for the club. He’s played the last three seasons with Utica of the American Hockey League.
“I think he’s definitely excited for the opportunity,” Keefe said. “They've been really happy with his development over the last three years, but this year in particular. They felt he was the guy that earned the opportunity and someone they wanted to get a look at. He’s coming off a concussion, so we’ve taken our time getting him into a game.
“He’s got two practices, took warmup yesterday (at Detroit) and ready to get going.”
Blueliner Dennis Cholowski will come out.
Also of note, goalie Nico Daws will see game action this evening.
Message to Fans
With tonight being the final regular-season home game, Keefe was asked what message he would want to deliver to the fans.
“The message is to know that we’re not content with much of our season. That goes without saying,” Keefe said. “There’s a lot of commitment within the locker room from the players to coaches to management to get it right, and ownership as well. We’re not happy with anything that’s occurred this season that’s put us in this position. We don’t take for granted any day. I don’t take for granted my position to coach in the NHL. I’m committed to doing what I can to get it right here.
"I'm hopeful that our players in our last home game with give them something to feel good about despite the circumstances."
Walking on Glass
Glass potted hi s19th goal of the season at Detroit. That’s already a career high. If he adds another goal in the final two games, it’ll be his first 20-goal campaign.
“The thing he communicates to me is that he finally feels like he found a home,” Keefe said. “He feels a level of comfort in his game and knowing and understanding his role. He feels trusted to be on the ice consistently and be relied upon. He’s always been a guy that’s been able to score. He was a first-round pick. It’s taken a while for him in this league. He’s made the decision that he was going to embrace a role, not focus on scoring but focus on being someone that the coach can trust. He in turn trusting in his ability to be able to score and make a difference this season. It just so happens he’s had great scoring chances and made good on them to have good goal numbers. Regardless of what his points may show, and he doesn’t have a lot of assists, he’s a positive contributor in so many areas.”
