Devils Notebook: Lineup Tweak, Dads Attend Skate

The New Jersey Devils didn’t end Wednesday’s contest the way they started. Head coach Lindy Ruff felt the need for a lineup tweak in the top six, flipping Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier. The switch was more of what Ruff was looking for out of his offense led to more opportunities and forced the Boston Bruins to ice different matchups that worked well in the Devils’ favor. As a result of the success, Ruff stuck with the tweaks he made at Friday’s morning skate.

Friday’s Devils Workflow

Forwards

Tyler Toffoli – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt

Ondrej Palat – Nico Hischier – Timo Meier

Erik Haula– Dawson Mercer – Alexander Holtz

Curtis Lazar – Michael McLeod – Nathan Bastian

Defensemen

Jonas Siegenthaler – Simon Nemec

Kevin Bahl – John Marino

Luke Hughes – Colin Miller

Extras

Chris Tierney – Brendan Smith

Goaltenders

Akira Schmid/Vitek Vanecek

There were minimal changes to the roster, however, there were some new faces in attendance. The Devils’ trip to Columbus is their yearly Dad’s trip. They’re already in town and were in attendance at New Jersey’s morning skate.

“It’s awesome to have them here,” Ruff said. “I always enjoy when the Dad’s, mom’s & mentors are around. The sacrifice the parents and mentors make to get the kids to the rink in any sport is incredible. This is a little bit of paying it back and it’s great to see them here.”

Tyler Toffoli is excited to hang out with his dad who he doesn’t see as often as he’d like.

“He’s an easy-going guy, Toffoli said. “For something like this to be going on, he’s pumped.”

Continued: “We’ll share a room and he’ll keep me up all night while I listen to him snore,” Toffoli joked. “It’s fun. It’s something we’re going to cherish forever. You can tell that all the dads and everyone are having a great time.”

The Devils will take on the Blue Jackets on Saturday with the dads in attendance. Columbus just ruled Patrik Laine out for the next six weeks with a clavicle fracture he suffered in last night’s game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. Columbus beat the Leafs 6-5, however, were forced to do so in overtime after the Blue Jackets blew a five-goal lead in the third period.

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