Devils Practice Before 2-Game Trip | NOTEBOOK

The Devils are practicing Saturday afternoon at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House inside the Prudential Center.

Stay tuned to the notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

Total Recall

The Devils recalled goaltender Nico Daws from Utica of the American Hockey League. Last week, Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said the club would bring Daws up and he'd likely play in one of the Devils' next four games heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Practice Info

The Devils had full participation of healthy players at the team’s practice, including forward Dawson Mercer and defenseman Brett Pesce, both of whom missed Thursday’s practice with maintenance days.

Injured players Erik Haula (ankle) and Santeri Hatakka (shoulder) are also taking part while wearing regular contact jerseys.

Haula will travel with the team on its two-game road trip. Though he will not play Sunday against Buffalo, he hasn't been ruled out for Tuesday's contest against Pittsburgh.

"He's getting closer," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "There's another practice in Pittsburgh (Monday). The plan is for him just to come with us so that he's available to keep practicing."

The Devils used the following workflow…

Goalie Tandem

The Devils will use the goalie tandem of Jake Allen and Nico Daws for the week ahead, which features four games in seven days.

Allen will start Sunday afternoon against Buffalo, but the Devils would like to get Daws into one of the remaining three games heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

“We’d like to get (Daws) in both for his benefit to get some work and some action, but also for Jake and managing his workload and such,” Keefe said. “Jake will go tomorrow, coming out of three days off here it makes sense and coming off the game he just had. With four games this week it would be nice to get Nico in one of them.”
That being said, if Allen is the hot hand, the Devils won’t shy from letting him take the reins.

“Jake is playing really well right now and looks to be in a groove,” Keefe said. “So, we’ll take it a day at a time and give Nico his time to adjust to the level and stay ready.”

Back in the Show

It’s no secret that the Utica Comets have struggled this season. The club is in last place in the North Division with a 15-21-2-2 record. It’s been a mental grind for everyone on the team, and that includes the goaltenders.

“It’s been a tough year down there this year,” goalie Nico Daws said. “But staying positive and it’s been a big focus on the mental side of the game when everybody struggles. So, it’s been good.”

Daws is 5-14-1 with a 3.40 goals-against average and .888 save percentage. Those numbers don’t really tell the whole story. While the team results haven’t come, Daws has also focused on his own preparation and development.

“Practice work and making sure my habits are good. Playing with pace all the time,” Daws said. “Going to Utica and not playing at an American League pace but playing at an NHL pace and trying to be an NHL goalie who just happens to be in the American League.”

Daws has played in both leagues with 46 career NHL games under his belt. So, he’s no stranger to the two leagues.

“There are a lot of different tendencies down there,” Daws said. “The game is a little slower and you can catch yourself not working as hard as you can but working as hard as you need to. That’s been a big thing for me.

“I’m trying to find consistency in my game. Every year I’ve had so far there have been good parts and obviously bad parts. I’m trying to bring it all together and just focus on the good parts. I think it’s all finally starting to come together. I’m growing into my game and feeling really comfortable, so it’s really nice.”

And if called upon, Daws may have an opportunity to show how much his game has grown.

“Any time you’re up here and you go down there, all you can think about is coming back,” he said. “It motivates you that extra little bit.

“Being back here in the first place is exciting.”

Switcheroo

The Devils adjust their defense for the first time all season in Wednesday's 5-0 victory against Philadelphia. The Devils used the pairings of:

Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Dillon - Pesce
Hughes - Kovacevic

Obviously, the team came away with a big win in the contest, but Keefe said more evaluation is needed in regard to the new D setup.

"I thought it was OK. I thought it took a little bit of time," Keefe said. "Hard to really assess it just in one game. We liked our second period. I don’t know how much of that was driven by the play of the defense or anything like that. It’s something we’re going to have to give some time to. But there’s no reason to not stay with it."

He Said It:

Kovacevic on the team's focus: "Everyone is laser focused on the next four games. We have one week, four games, before the break. Our sights are just set on Buffalo right now, but it could be a good week for us."

He Said It 2:

Noesen on the trades in the Metro recently: "Above my pay grade. We sit here and watch. (Tom Fitzgerald) has stuff in mind I’m sure that he wants to do. If it makes sense, it makes sense. If not, we have the guys on this team to do what we need to."