New Jersey Devils
Sheldon Keefe: 'It Was A Good Day For Shane Bowers'
New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe praised Shane Bowers' performance against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sep 30, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils center Shane Bowers (15) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports - Sheldon Keefe: 'It Was A Good Day For Shane Bowers'With injuries to Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian, the New Jersey Devils recalled two more forwards from their American Hockey League affiliate to join Justin Dowling: Nolan Foote and Shane Bowers.
Foote was traded to the Devils by the Tampa Bay Lightning with a first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft on Feb. 16, 2020. Bowers was acquired in June 2023 from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Reilly Walsh.
Foote (27th overall) and Bowers (28th overall) were first-round picks in their respective drafts and have been preparing for their opportunities.
The coaching staff decided first to play Bowers against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
The 6-foot-2 forward played on the fourth line with Dowling and Tomas Tatar. Bowers played a team-low 8:35, but it was not about the ice time given; it was about how impactful a player can be when on the ice.
According to the box score, the 25-year-old did not have a shot on goal but was credited with one hit and one blocked shot. However, what stuck out to head coach Sheldon Keefe would not appear on a box score.
"(His speed) was very evident, and that is what really stood out to me," Keefe said on Friday. "I thought he brought lots of pace to our team, off the puck, especially. Kind of pushing their defense back or getting on the forecheck. Also speed to be able to recover defensively, which is so important. It gives you confidence putting him over the boards and all that."
Bowers will be out of the lineup tonight against the Washington Capitals, as Foote will get his look with the coaching staff using the following lines:
Ondrej Palat - Jack Hughes - Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Stefan Noesen
Nolan Foote - Erik Haula - Dawson Mercer
Paul Cotter - Justin Dowling - Tomas Tatar
Extras: Shane Bowers & Kurtis MacDermid
Despite not being in the lineup Saturday night, Keefe made sure to have a positive conversation with Bowers before the team left for Washington, D.C.
"I was really happy with his game. I told (Bowers) that today," Keefe said on Friday. "It was a good day for Shane Bowers (on Thursday) in terms of what he brought."
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