Zajac aims to carry load, help Devils extend series against Lightning

NEWARK --The hopes of the New Jersey Devils to extend the Eastern Conference First Round rest heavily on the shoulders of their Mr. Everything, center Travis Zajac.
The Devils, trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 in the best-of-7 series, must win three consecutive games beginning with Game 5 at Amalie Arena on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; NBC, NBCSN, SN360, TVAS2) to avoid elimination.

RELATED: [Complete Lightning vs. Devils series coverage]
To buck the odds, Zajac will have to be the most complete player on the ice, like he was in Game 3 on Monday, a 5-2 Devils victory at Prudential Center. Yes, forward Taylor Hall has been New Jersey's most dynamic player in the first four games of the series, with six points (two goals, four assists), but it is easy to argue that Zajac has been the most impactful, despite having two points (one goal, one assist).
"He's a horse for us, to put it simply," Devils center Brian Boyle said.
Zajac, 32, has averaged 20:50 in each of the first four games, a number on the Devils topped only by Hall (20:56) and defenseman Andy Greene (20:55). He has played 3:51 per game on the penalty kill, 62 seconds more than Blake Coleman among forwards. On the power play, he is on the No. 1 unit, averaging 4:29 per game.
"When you look at all the situations he can play in and the impact he can have on the game, that is why he is such a valuable member of our team and one of our leaders," Devils coach John Hynes said.
Game 3 was a perfect example of why Zajac is so valuable and has been for the majority of his 12-year tenure with the Devils. With the luxury of the last change, Hynes could dictate the matchups. All too often, Zajac was deployed as the security blanket. He played 24:23, more than any other Devils player.
Hynes admitted it was too many minutes for Zajac, but the coach couldn't control himself. Things are calmer for the Devils, and for Hynes, when Zajac is on the ice.

"This guy, he probably doesn't even need to practice," Hynes said. "His attention to detail, his understanding of how to play in certain situations, the reads he needs to make, the sort-outs he needs to make, particularly on the defensive end. He has excellent habits, his stops his starts, he takes good angles, has a good stick. He does all the little things it takes to play against top players.
Most often, he has been out against the Tampa Bay's top line, featuring Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, two of the best players in the NHL. Each has had success on the power play, but it has been tougher sledding during 5-on-5 play, especially for Stamkos, who has two even-strength assists among his five points.
"They play with a lot of speed and they are tenacious on the puck," Zajac said, "so you can't take any time off against that team, and I think that is where it mentally and physically drains you."
Yet Zajac keeps going over the boards, no matter the stress of the workload. He followed his 25-minute outing with 19:18 in Game 4.
"Twenty-five minutes for a center is incredible," Boyle said. "That's like 35, 40 minutes for a [defenseman], incredible. I've played both [positions] and don't let the 'D' fool you, it's way harder to play center. To play that many minutes and those hard minutes against such an offensive group where you have to be dialed in, that's impressive."
The task will get more difficult in Game 5. Not only do the Devils need to win, but the Lightning have the advantage of the last change.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper can try to get his top players away from Zajac if he chooses. Hynes will have to counter by relying even more heavily on Zajac, who played 18:33 in Game 1 and 21:04 in Game 2, each on the road.
"I've always been in awe of Trav," Devils forward Kyle Palmieri said. "He's a guy that doesn't always get a whole lot of attention and the things he does and his ability to be an impact player is one of the things that makes him such an incredible player, person and leader for us.

"It's not always scoring goals, it's winning face-offs and being good in our D-zone. I think when you look at all the little things he does, it adds up to being a great player. To be a great player in this league for that long, he is obviously doing something right. That kind of character guy is who you need to win this time of year."
Hynes knows he will ride Zajac hard in Game 5 and any that may follow. He has no choice and he is OK with it. He trusts Zajac to do the job, whatever it may be on a given shift.
"He's exactly what we want in our players," Hynes coach said. "He's a self-starter, he loves the game, he's committed to it, so therefore he maximizes his potential."