Sunday Funday Practice for Devils | NOTEBOOK

The Devils held a Sunday afternoon practice at Prudential Center.

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

Practice Info

The Devils held practice at 12:30 p.m. The full slate of players participated. There were no changs to the groupings from last night's 5-3 win at Washington.

Fantasy Football

There are many ways for a team to bond. One of the biggest is through a fantasy football team. And I've got to say, Brenden Dillon has a great team name.

Extra Man

The Devils power play went 0 for 4 during the 5-3 win at Washington Saturday night. New Jersey has scored six goals in 40 man-advantage opportunities so far this season for a 15-percent conversion rate.

With the talent that the Devils have and the healthy return of Dougie Hamilton, the club is looking to get more out of its power-play chances.

“We have to be better on the power play. We’re not happy with the way it went yesterday but we won the game,” forward Timo Meier said. “We have to clean that up because we know how important special teams are.

“Talking and going over video, practicing it, there’s much more to be had. We can do much better than we’ve shown. We’ll keep working, analyze the stuff that we did wrong and get better at it.”

After practice on Sunday, Nico Hischier called over the top group to the white board and they held a players-led discussion. The group featured Hischier, Hamilton, Meier, Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes.

“You have to be on the same page,” Meier said. “There’s a structure to keep but if you work hard and are crisp, that’s where the talent is going to take over, that’s where you’re going to make plays if you’re disciplined in the job you have to do. The talent will take over. We have to simplify and work, and the talent will take over.”

Shutdown Pair

The Devils leaned heavily on the defensive tandem of Jonas Siegenthaler and Johnathan Kovacevic during their 5-3 victory at Washington Saturday night.

Siegenthaler led the team in ice time with 23:15 minutes of ice, while Kovacevic was second at 22:43.

“It’s definitely easier to play when you keep playing. You don’t have time to think. It’s on to the next shift,” Kovacevic said.

The coaching staff really relied on them late in the game while protecting a 4-3 lead.

“It means a lot, and we just try to do our job,” Siegenthaler said. “Just play solid, shutdown guys. Me and ‘Kovy’ are on the same page. We don’t try to do anything flashy here, just play our game, play hard and physical and break the puck out as quick as possible.”

The tandem has been together since the very beginning of training camp and those repetitions have gone a long way in their ability to work with each other.

“We clicked right away,” Kovacevic said. “Now there’s details within that. We have to learn from each other. That comes from talking in game, after the game, so he knows what I’m thinking or where I’m going to be. Same thing with him.”

One asset to the duo is that they play similar defensive styles. Both are more shutdown, defensive-minded. And because of that, there is a natural instinct to know how the other will handle certain plays.

“We try to keep it simple. We’re on the same page,” Siegenthaler said. “I try to be predictable for him and he’s pretty predictable for me. That always helps.”

“We bring similar tools, similar defensive abilities to the game,” Kovacevic said. “I think we’ve been working off each other well. He’s a great guy, fun to play with.”

5-Man Breakout

The Devils have been under some intense pressure from opposing forechecks in the past two games in Toronto and Washington. The Devils are trying to combat such circumstances by bringing their F3 lower in the zone and keeping a tighter grouping to aid in breakouts.

“When you go back for the puck you know you’ll have a couple options around you,” Siegenthaler said. “It’s not just throwing the puck away. You try to look for an option. They talk to you. It’s like a five-man unit trying to break out the puck.”

The more compact play in the defensive zone is certainly an aid to the defensemen when they go back to retrieve pucks below the goal line and know a forward is closing in on them.

“I find early in the season the forechecks are even harder,” Kovacevic said. “Last night (Washington is) in a home opener and haven’t played in a week. They’re chomping at the bit. They’re forechecking really hard.

“The other guys just by talking can make you look really good. If someone yells they’re open it becomes an easy play as opposed to you not being sure and having to make that look. It cuts off an extra half second.”

He Said It:

Kovacevic on feeling part of the team: “I definitely feel more comfortable. The guys are awesome at including me. I feel part of the group. Everything takes time. I’m sure I’ll be more comfortable as the year goes on, but they’ve been so welcoming to me. I’m so grateful for that.”