Regroup | NOTEBOOK

The Devils are back on the ice for practice Tuesday afternoon after their comeback fell short in a 4-3 setback to Florida Monday night. The Devils will practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before facing the New York Islanders on Long Island Friday night, the club's first road game of the season.

PRACTICE DETAILS

Forwards Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek (lower-body, day-to-day) were absent from practice. Haula dealt with an upper-body injury at the end of training camp, but has appeared in all three regular-season games. Nosek missed his first game of the year Monday with the lower-body issue.

Goaltender Keith Kinkaid (upper-body) was working with the team. He's been out since the first preseason game in mid-September.

"No (update). He missed practice with just an upper-body (injury) for now," head coach Lindy Ruff said of Haula.

LOOKING FORWARD

Devils head coach Lindy Ruff made a decision in the third period of his team’s 4-3 loss to Florida on Monday night. He gave a single shift each to forwards Time Meier and Curtis Lazar and defenseman John Marino.

For Lazar, the reasoning is merely situational. The Devils were trailing 4-0 in the third period and needed more offensive production to try and mount a comeback.

“I can only speak for myself, but it was that we were down in the game and need more offensive guys in there,” Lazar said. “I’m doing my game and I’m happy with my game and where I’m happy. That’s just luck of the draw once in a while.”

But for Meier, a 40-goal scorer last season, it was regarding discipline. He took two tripping penalties in the contest.

“If you look at what went on in the game and penalties that we took, we’ve talked about penalties,” Ruff said. “There’s a certain line you don’t want to cross or you’ll miss ice time. He took one and then took a second one, and that put the team in a bad place. He understands that. I met with him this morning. We went through where he’s at.”

Meier has put the issue behind him after addressing things with Ruff.

“Me and Lindy talked,” Meier said. “We both have the save view. (Things) happen. The sun came up again this morning. It’s a new day. You go out and work as hard as you can. What’s in the past is in the past. You look forward.”

LINE SWITCH

The Devils opened the season with their top two lines featuring: Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer and Tyler Toffoli – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt. At Tuesday’s practice, the the club has flipped its centers, skating a Meier-Hughes-Mercer and Toffoli-Hischier-Bratt trios.

“I feel like I have good chemistry with both of them. I’ve played as much with Nico as I have with Jack,” Bratt said. “Sometimes splitting up the lines can give a lot of energy to the team. I feel like we’re in a position right now it doesn’t hurt to switch something up and see what works.”

As Bratt noted, he’s played a lot with both Hughes and Hischier. The same can be said about Mercer, who has skated on a wing with both of the two centermen at junctures throughout his two-year career.

Mercer spoke about playing with a superior talent like Hughes.

“He’s got so much talent,” “Having my feet going, supporting him and making plays, being available because when he has the puck on his stick he can really get it to you no matter what. Always be in that position to shoot and make plays.”

HE SAID IT:

Bratt on remaining patient early in the season: "It's been tough games. Every single game now is going to be tough. We're playing teams that will do everything they can to beat us. They see us as a top team. It's up to us to face that challenge and get over the hump."

10 TAKEAWAYS

It's another week and another 10 anecdotes from NJD.tv's Amanda Stein.

We're already in our second week. How did that happen? 

Yes, we still have a long way to go. 

I also feel like I've experienced every possible hockey season emotion in just a week and a half. It's been that type of start to the year with the first three games. It's a bit of a slow start to the season with just five games in the opening 10 days, where next week we move into overdrive where the schedule picks up to four games in six nights. 

It has, however, given me more time to collect a few good stories after hosting a Q&A, as well as attending one. There were some good stories thrown around, which I couldn't not share with you all.

Read all 10 of Amanda's tidbits here.