GLENDALE, AZ -The Devils held an optional morning skate at Gila River Arena Tuesday afternoon. Though it was optional, the skate was heavily attended. That included goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who was on the ice for the first time since a nagging heel injury forced him out of the lineup in late January.
Forward Nathan Bastian, who participated in a full-contact practice Monday, is "available" to the team, per head coach Lindy Ruff. Though he did not confirm whether or not Bastian would play.
Gen Z
Devils rookie forward Fabian Zetterlund is enjoying a much larger role on the team in his most recent callup. And it could potentially get bigger.
Zetterlund finished the team's contest in Dallas on Saturday skating on the club's top line with captain Nico Hischier and Yegor Sharangovich. Although the lineup for tonight isn't known, it was a treat for Zetterlund to be given that opportunity.
"They're really good players. I think I fit in there good with my strength and my pace," Zetterlund said. "(Hischier) is really good. He's one of the best centers in the league. It's really nice to have him out there."
Ruff said that the lines could fluctuate throughout the game depending on how each one is performing. But they want to give Zetterlund a chance with various players and possibly in a top-6 role.
"We're just trying to give him a look to see really what he can help our team out with," Ruff said. "We said before we got into this that he was going to get a good look. I didn't think Nico's line was generating enough so we moved him up, and I thought instantly we got some results."
Don't Let it Sleep
The Devils have at times this season played up and down to their competition. They've beaten very good teams like Colorado, NY Rangers and St. Louis. But lost games to Arizona, Ottawa and Chicago. With another game against the Coyotes, who have the worst record in the NHL, the coaching staff addressed that with the team.
"It has been something that has bit our team," Ruff said. "We have given up too many opportunities against teams that maybe we don't show enough respect for. Today's meeting today was about making sure we're ready to play that game. It's going to be a hard game. That team knows they're in for a game, too. And we're playing the game the right way. That didn't happen for a period of time in the Montreal game.
"We've got to play a hard game. We have to play a disciplined, defensive game. They have to know that they're in a game."
