Devils Take the Ice at Utah Olympic Oval | NOTEBOOK

KEARNS, UT - The Devils practiced Friday afternoon at the Utah Olympic Oval.

Read the notebook below for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session.

Practice Info

Jack Hughes did not practice today, likely a maintenance day. The lines looked like this:

Meier - Hischier - Mercer
Bratt - Dowling - Palat
Noesen - Haula - Cotter
Bastian - Lazar - Tatar

Hughes - Hamilton
Pesce - Kovacevic
Dillon - Nemec
MacDermid - Casey

Three goaltenders rotated in: Markstrom, Allen and Daws.

Devils Looking for Offense in Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton Pair

Luke Hughes has been seeing increased time alongside Dougie Hamilton, creating an offensive-minded defensive pairing that can generate scoring chances from the blue line.

“He can score,” Hughes said of Hamilton. “If I get him the puck, he can put it in the net, and I hope he feels the same way about me.”

The Devils have been deploying Hughes and Hamilton together for offensive zone faceoffs, recognizing that their combined skill sets give the team an added advantage in these situations.

“Before, it was just one or the other,” Hughes explained regarding offensive zone draws having either his pairing or Hamilton's. “But put us together, you can put us on there for most of the offensive zone draws and try to create stuff off the draws.”

Dillon on Playoff Push: ‘We Need to Build Our Game’

With the regular season winding down, the Devils are focused on sharpening their play in preparation for the playoffs. Brenden Dillon acknowledged the team's recent struggles but emphasized the team’s confidence in its abilities.

“It’s been tough. It was a frustrating stretch, for sure,” Dillon admitted. “Win one, lose one. Are we playing the right way and not getting the right result, or are we not playing the right way?”

The Devils’ offense has been inconsistent at times, and Dillon pointed to the team's previous contest in Colorado where they were trailing 2-1 in the third period but never truly felt in control. “We need to create more offense,” he said. “For all of us, we’ve been in a bit of a rut here the last couple of weeks. We know how good of a team we have."

He added that the imminent return of Jacob Markstrom should also help galvanize the squad.

"Marky’s coming back on the ice. Just getting good vibes in the room and getting everyone together.”

With 22 games left before the postseason, Dillon sees the intensity increasing. “We’re getting close to playoff hockey already,” he said. “We realize the teams behind us are doing well and winning. We’re getting close to the trade deadline, and some teams will be getting better, adding pieces, and others might not be.”

The challenge for the Devils is to maintain their identity and continue building momentum heading into the playoffs.

Luke Steps Up on the Penalty Kill

With Jonas Siegenthaler sidelined, the Devils needed someone to take on more responsibility in shorthanded situations. That player has been Luke Hughes, who is embracing his expanded role.

• WATCH: Devils Now - Adding to the Arsenal
• READ MORE: Luke Hughes Rounding Out Game on PK

“I’ve PK’d on every team I’ve played before except this one,” Hughes said. “With Siegenthaler being out, they need someone who can step up and take that role. I’m trying to take it day by day, be reliable on the kill, and do my job.”

Hughes’ skill set makes him a strong fit for the penalty kill. His quick stick and long reach allow him to disrupt passing lanes, while his skating ability helps him recover and clear the zone efficiently.

Brenden Dillon praised Hughes’ development in this area, noting that penalty killing is an acquired skill. “It’s just process of elimination right now and he’s stepping up and doing a good job for us,” Dillon said. “Penalty killing is not easy. These guys keep getting better and better every year. It’s an education but it’s a skill, too.”

The added ice time in these key moments is another sign of Hughes’ growing role on the Devils’ blue line.

He Said It: Dillon on Utah’s Hockey Buzz

Playing in Utah for the first time, Brenden Dillon took note of the unique setup at the practice rink at the Utah Olympic Oval and the general excitement surrounding hockey in the state.

“First time for that. A rink within a rink with another rink beside you,” he said, referencing the speed skating and figure skating rinks adjacent to the practice facility.

“There’s hockey here now. It’s exciting. You can see there’s a buzz around the city.”