Ruff Emphasizes Devils Puck Management and Defensive Play

With a depleted blue line with injuries to three veteran defensemen, there is now, more than ever, an emphasis on puck management and playing a solid defensive game.

The New Jersey Devils enter tonight's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets having dropped their last two games with an overall record of 22-17-3. Besides the play of young netminder Nico Daws, it has been a challenging week for Nico Hischier's team.

With star forward Jack Hughes out of the lineup and a depleted blue line with injuries to three veteran defensemen, there is now, more than ever, an emphasis on puck management and playing a solid defensive game.

In the club's last game versus the Montreal Canadiens, defensive mistakes proved costly as the Devils surrendered the game-winning goal with under five minutes remaining after coming back from being down 2-0.

During that game, head coach Lindy Ruff reduced Alexander Holtz's ice time because of a play in the middle frame versus the Canadiens.

"If you look at the opportunity in the second period where (he) threw the puck in the middle of the ice, you get a point-blank scoring chance. In a tight game, in a one-goal game, it's plays like that where we're trying to get back in the game, and we drop down to three lines," he said. "(Holtz) understands we're trying to eliminate the pucks that go into the middle of the ice, the puck management part. So when you make a play like that, then it's going to be hard to get back onto the ice because we just gave them a quality scoring chance off a play where we put it in the middle of the ice where we didn't need to put it in the middle of the ice."

One thing that stuck out was at the very end of his response, Ruff said, "Is he going to make the same play again?"

On Thursday morning, ex-Devils forward Mike Rupp was a guest on Morning Cuppa Hockey and made a similar point, talking about a coach needing to know what they are getting when they send a player over the boards onto the ice.

New Jersey needing to improve their play in the defensive zone has been a reoccurring theme, and back in October, Ruff talked about his players committing to playing better defensively.

"Defense is a commitment by individuals," he said. "The only way that you can really eliminate poor defensive play is if I shuffle (players) out of the lineup. (Lineup changes are) a way to get the attention about playing better defensively."

Through the first 42 games, the Devils have averaged 3.43 goals per game, which is seventh most in the league. Until recently, generating offense has not been a problem for New Jersey. For the past few months, the club's Achilles' heel has been defense and goaltending.

According to Statmuse, the Devils have an average of 3.48 goals against per game. That is the fifth-most in the league. The four teams above them? The Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and San Jose Sharks. Each of those teams is ranked at the bottom of their respective division.

Through the first half of the season, the Devils' coaching staff have benched a few skaters for their play, including John Marino, Timo Meier, and Curtis Lazar. At certain points, Brendan Smith and Nathan Bastian have found themselves watching the game from the press box as a healthy scratch.

The Devils' play this season has not been where it needs to be, and the pressure to make the playoffs for a second straight season is quickly starting to build.

With so many injuries to the blue line, it is unlikely a defenseman will be benched based on circumstances. Still, regarding the forwards, the coaching staff has proved they are not afraid to shorten their bench if the skater's puck management isn't up to standard. Holtz has been the latest casualty but won't be the last.

As Luke Hughes said after his team's loss to the Canadiens, "It's a game of mistakes, but you try to limit the mistakes, and that's usually the team that wins the game."

New Jersey will try to limit their defensive mistakes Friday night when the puck drops at 7:00 P.M. The game will be televised on MSGSN.