MORNING SKATE RECAP
CHICAGO, IL - The New Jersey Devils have once again been hit with a hole to fill in their lineup as forward Cody Glass did not travel with the club to Chicago for the start of a three-game road trip. Glass, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline and has fit right in with his new team, did not travel with the club to start the road trip, but head coach Sheldon Keefe suggested that Glass could possibly meet the team at some point over the next few days.
"Obviously, Glasser has played well for us, both when he was making an impact on the scoresheet and then when he hasn't scored in the last few games or so, he's just on the puck. He's a good player and helps us in all areas of the game, it's another loss for us but another opportunity for other guys to fill in and we have lots of bodies here."
Keefe confirmed that both Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian will return to the lineup and will be "hungry and eager to make an impact."
Nemec Gets Back In
After sitting out the previous two games, Simon Nemec will return to the lineup against the Blackhawks. The 21-year-old defenseman returns to the ice while Dennis Cholowski will be out.
"I think the time is right, he's been out for a bit and been able to work at some things but also Cholowski has done a good job for us," Keefe said. "But it's something where I see it being fluid with those guys moving in and out and we'd like to give Nemo another opportunity and give a little traction there. That's what it's about really, keeping both guys involved."
Leaning on Pally
The Devils are really in the final stretch of their regular season, the game against the Blackhawks kicking off the final 10 games. And as the team has struggled to find a degree of consistency in their game and results, it becomes a time where you're leaning heavily on those with the most experience in these scenarios to lead the way and help guide the group to the finish line.
This time of year is for players like Ondrej Palat.
"We’re in a good spot right now, (a spot) half of the league would love to be in," Palat said. But we need to approach it like a very important 10-game segment that starts with an important road trip starting tonight.”
“If we’re going to play hard and with the good details, we need to want it more than Chicago.”
Keefe spoke earlier in the week about the significance of having Palat back in their lineup and back in the locker room as they approach this final stretch.
“To me it’s leadership. When Palat speaks, guys listen," he said. "It helps settle the groups down. He’s played in high-stakes situations. He’s played in every situation.
“There’s been a void with our group the last couple games without him. On the ice he does a lot of the hard work, consistent effort, competitiveness. Palat is very consistent in that. To me he drives our group in a lot of ways.”
- Amanda Stein, Team Reporter
