It's been a month without many practices for the Devils. Today's practice in Seattle was the team's first since Thursday last week in Anaheim. Tuesday was a day off for the club coming off three games in four days. Coach Ruff talked about trying to find time to get the full team on ice for practice and balancing that with what is often much-needed rest.
"One day is always dictated by a union day off," Ruff began. "When we play back-to-back a lot of times the next day will be a day off. Sometimes it depends how late the night gets if we're traveling. When the ice time is the next day, the minutes some players play will dictate whether we make it optional for those guys. There's a lot of factors. If guys weren't feeling that well you have to get them some time off, too."