Meier provides grit for Devils ahead of Game 4 against Hurricanes

NEWARK, N.J. -- How tough is Timo Meier?

When the New Jersey Devils forward was asked about the hit he took courtesy of defenseman Jacob Trouba in a 4-0 win against the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference First Round, he smiled and countered, as he always has in more ways than one throughout his career.

"It's playoff hockey," he said. "You got to be ready, you got to keep your head up. So, take the hit, shake it off, get back up and go back to work."

Meier has done just that. Sure, he missed a 5-1 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round, but he returned for Game 2 wearing a full face shield and picked up doing what he does best.

"That's what makes me the player I am," Meier said. "I learned pretty quick coming over from Switzerland to Canada (with Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2013-14). One of the first things the coach (Dominique Ducharme) told me was to play that type of game. I had to be strong and play that physical style."

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Meier scored his first goal and first point of the playoffs from in tight at the right post early in the first period of an 8-4 win in Game 3 at Prudential Center on Sunday and hopes that's the beginning of bigger and better moments in this best-of-7 series that Carolina leads 2-1.

Game 4 is here on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS).

"Maybe, production wise, it hasn't been going the way I would like, but that's how it goes sometimes," Meier said. "You just have to try to help the team in whatever way you can. Go out and play hard. It's definitely been a fun challenge for me, and I think it helps me grow as a player overall, just that experience of having the chance to play in the playoffs."

Meier's scoring production is down but he's creating each shift in a top-nine role in the playoffs. He's second on New Jersey with 35 shots on goal, leads them with 27 hits and is fourth among forwards with seven blocked shots, all while averaging 16:45 of ice time.

Acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 26, he's been working hard to get up to speed on the concepts and structure of a Devils team that established a franchise record for wins (52) and points (112) in the regular season.

He had 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 21 regular-season games for the Devils and 66 points (40 goals, 26 assists) in 78 games overall.

"It's a team with a lot of talent, a lot of skill," Meier said of the Devils. "It's what I expected. We play a super-fast game and that's something I love. Just the battle and tightness of this group ... that's what makes this a strong team."

Meier is in the final season of a four-year contract he signed July 1, 2019, and can become a restricted free agent after the season.

It hasn't been perfect, but the 26-year-old forward has been everything his coaches and teammates expected. Meier isn't afraid to enter battles along the wall, he's comfortable in front of the net and he certainly is willing to take any confrontation head-on.

"You look at the physicality ... that's something we didn't have," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "An elite goal-scorer and big physical guy. A guy that can really bully his way down low. He gets into people, is tough to play against and a guy who can turn his body and protect pucks where, physically, that's not really possible for some of our other guys."

Meier absorbed the hit from Trouba just as he skated over the Rangers blue line 5:39 into the third period with his team on the power play and holding a 2-0 lead.

He remained on his back for about a minute before finally getting up and heading to the locker room and did not play the remainder of the game. He did rejoin his team in the handshake line after the Devils eliminated the Rangers.

He said he didn't require any stitches but there was a bloody gash across the bridge of his nose. Despite taking what he said was the hardest hit of his hockey career, he spoke with Trouba in the handshake line.

"I was just kind of joking with him," Meier said. "Telling him, 'you got me pretty good with that hit'. But it is what it is. You get up and move on."