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MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ – The Devils did not hold a morning skate due to playing an afternoon contest against Ottawa. Head coach Sheldon Keefe did address the media before the game. Here are the biggest takeaways from that avail.

Lineup

The Devils have been dealing with a rash of illness running through the team. The bug recently knocked forward Stefan Noesen out of the lineup for two games. However, it doesn’t appear that today’s lineup will be effected.

“There are names popping up on the injury/illness list each day that we’re monitoring. I think we’ll be okay from the looks of it,” Keefe said. “We’re monitoring it from an energy standpoint and making sure it’s not contagious. Some of that’s out of my hands. Seems like we have a group of guys that are in today that are good, and nothing to be concerned about at this moment.”

Scouting Ottawa

The Senators have been a very streaky team, both in good and bad terms, this season. Out of the holiday break, Ottawa went 1-4-1, including four straight losses. But since then, the club has strung together a 4-0-1 streak.

“They’ve played good defense. They’ve gotten better goaltending,” Keefe said. “They keep the puck away from their net. They’ve always been very dangerous in transition, a lot of skill throughout their lineup. The defense supports the attack very well. They have three really good lines that can score and hurt you in different ways. It’s a good team. They play hard and they compete.”

Keefe noted the parity in the NHL truly means that there are no bad teams, particularly in the Eastern Conference.

“This Ottawa team is playing a lot of good hockey right now,” Keefe said. “We talked about it yesterday with Philly coming in, these teams have really taken a step in the last 20 games and playing as good a hockey as anybody in the league.

“The league right now is as close as it’s been in my time in the league. It doesn’t seem like there is any bottom in the Eastern Conference. Everybody is stuck in the middle and beating each other any given night. We have to be at our best, no doubt.”

Simplify

The Devils are looking for answers to their current offensive woes. And one place they can find answers, according to Keefe, is in their structure.

“Trust in the structure, trust in the system,” he said. “Doing your job, getting to your spots and not trying to complicate it, especially if it’s not going well.”