Devils Practice in Arizona at Mullett Arena | NOTEBOOK

TEMPE, AZ - The Devils held a practice at the new home of the Arizona Coyotes, Mullett Arena. We'll have a full report from the skate with videos and more so stay tuned.

Workflow in Tempe

The Devils used the following lines:
Tatar - Hischier - Mercer
Meier - Hughes - Bratt
Palat - Haula - Boqvist
Wood - McLeod - Bastian
Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Marino - Graves
Bahl - Severson
Sharangovich - Smith
Power play units were:
Bratt - Hischier - Meier
Hughes - Hamilton
Palat - Haula - Mercer
Tatar - Severson

Meier 'Can't Wait to Get Into Game Action'

Timo Meier skating on a line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt plus on the top power play unit is a great sign that he's just about ready to return.
"I'm feeling really good," said Meier. "Getting out there with the team and practicing with the line. Very excited and can't wait to get into game action. It's great watching, a fun team to watch but you want to get out there and compete with them."
Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said Meier told him he's feeling well.
"First time in a full practice with us, I thought he looked good," he said, adding his thought process on trying him on a line with Bratt and Hughes.
"You put a dynamic scorer on the left side and a guy that really shoots it well. You've got great speed with Bratter on the other side. It's an interesting mix."
The biggest challenge the team may have is trying to distribute shots on goal evenly with Meier second in the NHL in shots and Hughes fourth. Ruff said the players need to be aware of that.
"Sometimes I think when a new guy steps in you try to feed him too much. You've gotta make the plays that are there and if you've got a great shot you take it."
Meier talked more about his linemates.
"They've played so well together for me, to get a chance to jump in there I want to add my strengths. Work hard, create open ice and some area for them," he noted.
"(Hughes is) really skilled. He can make plays and find me through sticks and skates but he's also dangerous to score goals. For me, if I get out there with him you've got to be ready for all times because he makes passes through guys. Same with Bratt, two shifty guys who can beat defensemen one-on-one."

Fourth Line's Success

Both games on this road trip, Miles Wood has scored a huge goal for the Devils. Overall, he has points in three straight games and six points in his last six overall.
"It's taken awhile to get his game to where it's had but now we're seeing the best of Miles," said Ruff after the game yesterday. "He's getting to the net front, he's in on two or three scoring chances. That line has been solid. Isn't getting scored against. It's been physical. You look at Bastian scoring a couple, what Wood has done, Michael setting up a few plays and the job he did on face-offs in overtime. Size, getting to the inside. It's going to be an important."
Wood said that he's feeling good about where his game and his line's game is at.
"The team's playing extremely well. Our line is starting to click back to where it was at the start of the year. Mikey in the face-off draw has been unbelievable. Overall, we're in a great spot. The team has a lot of fight in it. We've played two great so far and hopefully we can cap off this road trip with a win.
"Just sticking to my game, not trying to complicate things. It's the guys around me that have helped me out so much. Hopefully our line can do well here in the home stretch."

Ruff on Sharangovich

Friday against Vegas, Yegor Sharangovich only had one shift in the third period and today he saw Meier skating where he was: on a line with Hughes and Bratt. Most of Sharangovich's shifts at practice today were alongside Brendan Smith on defense. Ruff talked about it following practice.
"When you look at it, there are some plays he could have been harder on but he's been part of the group that's been successful," Ruff stated. "It's not about Yegor, it's about what was going good in the game and it seemed like other guys were going better. Tried to change a little momentum in the second period and I thought we got back to our game."
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