Bratt, Dillon Reflect on Halfway Point of Season | NOTEBOOK

The Devils were on the ice in San Jose on Friday for a practice session at S.A.P. Arena before they take on the Sharks on Saturday at 1 p.m. local time.

Check out the Devils Notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

The Gist

New Jersey held a 30-minute practice in San Jose, getting their legs ready after a day off on Thursday and an early afternoon matchup on Saturday.

During line rushes, forward Justin Dowling took part in the fourth line rushes, rotating in and out with Tomas Tatar alongside Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian. That could indicate the coaching staff may be looking at getting Dowling into the lineup. Tatar has been in and out of the lineup recently as a healthy scratch, and Dowling last played on December 27, at home against Carolina.

Meet Me Halfway

The Devils have officially hit the halfway point in their season, 41 games behind them another 41 to go. While this is a forward-thinking group, it's also important to look back on what has made them successful in getting to the halfway point with the record they have and being second in the Metropolitan Division.

There is plenty to be proud of, says defenseman Brenden Dillon.

"I think just that we’re continue to get better," he said. "I think from where we started the year to where we are at now with our recognition of systems, the ways we’ve found to win is a kudos to our group. I think just getting to know the guys in here, we’re all really eager and willing to learn. There’s great character, guys don’t have their own hidden agendas or caring about points or any of this stuff. I think ultimately everyone in here, really, really wants to win.”

What also happens when the league starts to hit the halfway point of the hockey only gets harder. So getting back to their game that they established before the holiday break will be vital.

“The games we were playing before Christmas, those were the games where we really, really started to establish how we feel that we can play as a group and played some really good hockey," Jesper Bratt said. "I think that kind of speaks for our hard work over a long period of time, ever since training camp.”

“When you come into the second half," he continued, "every team is starting to play better, teams systems are starting to fall more and more in place and it gets harder and harder to create scoring chances and that’s when you as a team and as a group just have to find that next level and that’s what we’re committed to do."

He Said It

Brenden Dillon, to San Jose media, on being teammates with Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes:

“It's a lot better being able to pass those guys the puck! I see it in practice every day how creative, the skill, the speed, the talent. Unbelievable players and both so unique and different in their own right as well (…) two great guys leading the way for us.”