Through three games, the Devils earned a 1-1-1 record.
If there is one thing I've learned about New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier, it is that he carries the weight of the team on his shoulders.
After the team's 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, he stood at his stall and spoke about not getting too low after their 1-1-1 start.
It's a mantra Devils media heard plenty of times last season from the 24-year-old, "We can't get too low if we lose a couple and can't get too high if we win a couple."
After a challenging practice on Tuesday afternoon that included some old-school skating drills that brought out the Herb Brooks memes, I sat with Hischier, who talked about confidence and why the club doesn't want to panic.
The Devils should have started the season feeling good about themselves as a team. They earned a 7-0-0 preseason record, with 30 goals for and 13 goals against. Their 14 points led the league, but as Hischier pointed out, none of that matters.
"Preseason is preseason," he said. "The regular season is a whole different game."
He's not wrong.
The regular season means expectations, and expectations mean pressure. After a franchise record-setting 52 wins and 112 points last season, the Devils are transitioning from being the hunter to the hunted. It's a new experience for Hischier and his team, as they are considered a Stanley Cup favorite for the first time in decades.
Over the past three games, there has been a disconnect among the Devils' four lines. Some of the club's top players, including Hischier, have yet to find the back of the net and contribute offensively. After the team's loss to the Panthers, the captain was asked to provide an explanation.
"Probably gripping our sticks too much," he said. "I think we just need to stick to a simple game plan at the beginning and start skating. I think it's hard to say something that's a mindset."
When a player talks about gripping his stick too tight, it signals there is something off concerning the mental aspect of the game. Whether it's a lack of confidence or insecurities creeping in, there is a disconnect between the mind and the body.
"When you have confidence, you definitely try (to do) more with the puck," said Hischier. "It's a lot in the head, for sure."
The game's mental aspect is rarely discussed, and some players, including Jesper Bratt and Vitek Vanecek, have recently openly discussed their decision to utilize a mental skills coach.
Recently, I spoke with a mental skills coach who explained that a practice session is 85 percent physical and 15 percent mental. Still, when it's time for a game, those numbers reverse: 85 percent mental and 15 percent physical. Additionally, the two go hand in hand. When players struggle mentally, they could have physical symptoms such as cold hands and tunnel vision.
The 82-game schedule is a grind; throughout a season, a player will experience ebbs and flows in their play and highs and lows. Between internal pressure and outside noise, it could take a few games to recapture confidence and change their overall mindset.
While Hischier continues to focus on his individual game, he knows, as the captain, it's not time for his team to panic. Their 1-1-1 record is better than last season's 1-2-0 start, and with a handful of new players and others embracing new roles, it will take a little time for things to gel together fully.
The good news for New Jersey is Jack Hughes and Bratt already look like they are in mid-season form, and their power play is clicking and is ranked fifth-best in the league.
The Devils are in the early stages of this new challenge. Opposing teams know what to expect and will continue to bring their A-game against New Jersey. It won't be an easy season, and the guys in the locker room understand that.
Getting back on track begins with players building their individual confidence and then coming together as a group. Like Hischier said, the team must simplify their game and be ready to play at 7:00 P.M.
Their next game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 19, when they travel to UBS Arena to play the New York Islanders. They have five games left this month and will look to find their game before their first big road trip at the start of November.