Defense First
The Devils’ game has evolved under head coach Sheldon Keefe. Instead of relying solely on its high-flying offensive talent to win games, the club’s first priority is defending. At times that means sacrificing some offense.
The last two games have been good examples of the team’s evolution into a defense-first mentality. The Devils held Toronto and Los Angeles to one goal each during regulation time. And they didn’t expose themselves defensively by trying to force offense.
The formula for the Devils success is to be sound defensively and eventually the offense will take care of itself.
“The more we play that we the more we understand our concept of winning,” forward Jesper Bratt said. “The last couple of games our defensive play has taken a step forward. That’s what we have to continue doing. We can add more offense and small details, create more second chances and score more goals. We understood as a group what made us successful defensively against good teams.”
The Devils are getting more and more comfortable playing in low-scoring, tight games.
“That’s maturity. A couple years ago we would have forced to score goals,” defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler said. “We would open up the game a little bit and let other teams get their chances. With this group we’re a little older, more experienced. It’s knowing how to manage the game. Don’t give them anything, don’t give them any life. Just play our game over 60 minutes.”
The Devils still have the firepower to open up the game and compete in a track meet. But the team is learning that there are many different ways to be successful in the NHL.
“We want to be a team that can win every sort of game,” Bratt said. “Every game you won’t win 5-1, 5-2, pucks bounce in and there’s transition games constantly. Some games are really hard. There’s little space out there, little time, not a lot of things happen throughout the game. You have to win those games too.
“I think we did a good job of playing a game that wasn’t in favor of the way that we play, but we stuck to it and we won a tough game that gave us two very big points.”
The Devils have struggled lately at the start of games. It became a point of emphasis. The result? In the first periods against Toronto and Los Angeles, the Devils gave up two shots against (one to each team). They outshot the club’s by a count of 25-2.
But it all starts with the D.
“Don’t give any rush chances. Stay above them,” Siegenthaler said. “It’s a learning process. I think we’re going pretty good right now the last two games. I think we just have to make it more consistent. If we play like that it’s hard for the other team to breakthrough.”
