"High compete level, there was no deviating from the game plan either game," Hall said when asked about what he liked from what he saw watching his teammates go 1-0-1 in the two games he missed. "Whether we were down or in overtime, it seemed like we really went after it. We weren't afraid to make mistakes, and when we play like that, we don't make a whole lot of mistakes. It was great to see and hopefully I can come in and continue on that path."
Hall took part in Monday's practice and was on the ice again for morning skate at Prudential Center, after being unable to finish a practice late last week.
"A little bit of a nagging injury, that you come into the rink a couple weeks ago and you feel a little something," Hall said. "That's not abnormal for hockey players, there's always going to be nicks and bruises, but it was just getting worse and worse to the point where I couldn't finish a practice. Hopefully tonight goes well, but it felt really good this morning."
Tonight, when the Devils host the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey will have Hall in their lineup with a couple days rest benefiting the topline winger. Hall was pleased to see his team earn those points over the weekend, admitting that it's easier to sit out when your team is winning, despite still wanting to be out there contributing.
"You hate missing games," Hall continued. "It was great to see our team play well while I was out, but you want to get back in there… especially against a team like the Leafs, you're always excited to play them."
The last time the two teams met was in Toronto on November 9, a game that certainly didn't go the Devils way in a 6-1 loss. Head coach John Hynes feels his team has changed since the Devils visited Toronto, with his team staying more committed to their identity as of late.
"We weren't managing games well," Hynes said of the last time the two clubs met. "We've gone through lots of games since then and we feel like we have a clearer understanding and commitment to what we need to do at a higher level, particularly against a high offensive team [like Toronto]."
"We have to work for every point, every game, every goal," Hynes added. "We're a blue-collar team that has to work for everything we want to earn. You're pushing and pushing and pushing. For the players, they have to be mentally engaged and willing to put that type of effort, structure and detail in to the game every night. When we do, we're a difficult team to play against. Now it's all of our job collectively to get there, be more consistent and have it be more reliable."
