Devils Head Coach Expresses Feverish Concern About Home-Ice Performance

NEWARK — No one has played more games than the New Jersey Devils this season. Currently, they sit atop the NHL in both games played (eight) and in the standings (11 points), holding first overall in the NHL, Eastern conference and the Metropolitan Division. That should indicate that they’re firing on all cylinders, alluding to a strong start for the Devils. And although that might be half true, the Devils’ head coach has already expressed concern with the team’s performance on home ice.

Technically, the Devils are 2-2-0 on home ice. However, one of those home wins came in Prague as the Devils were considered the home team in the second game they played against the Buffalo Sabres.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe‘s concern is about the Devils’ performances at the Prudential Center in front of their own fans.

On Saturday, the Devils dropped a high-scoring affair with the Washington Capitals 6-5 in overtime. It was a game that displayed perhaps a little bit of fight in New Jersey, however, also showed some defensive deficits on the Devils’ blue line.

Devils Postgame: Keefe Critical of Effort; Defensive Issues in 6-5 OT Loss to Capitals

“Unacceptable effort” has been a recurring theme from Keefe following some sloppy losses at the Prudential Center. That theme continued Saturday night in a game where the Devils were slow to pucks, lost most of their puck battles, lost coverages, and allowed the Capitals to play too much with the puck in high-danger areas.

When asked, Keefe explained he switched up his lines both at forward and on the blue line in search for a spark. He got one from captain Nico Hischier who scored two goals in 10 seconds to negate a two-goal Capitals lead. However, Keefe didn’t get much more than that.

“Just something, just something,” coach Keefe exclaimed to New Jersey Hockey Now when asked what he was looking for when shuffling the lines.

MORE: Devils Sheldon Keefe Makes Big Changes to Lineup

Keefe went on feverishly, showing an outward and stern concern about the Devils’ effort at the Prudential Center.

“It was an unacceptable effort on home ice. That’s two out of three games on home ice that’s just been an unacceptable effort. We’ll continue to address that.”

Before Saturday, the Devils were handed another loss on home ice by Keefe’s former club, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Much of the same issues that occurred on Saturday were present against Craig Berube’s new club.

He was especially unhappy about the effort then, and is even more unhappy about it now. A tilt against the Capitals is essentially a four-point game playing an in-division rival.

Last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Keefe coached his former club to a 22-15-4 record on home ice. However, for the Devils, home ice wins were an issue last season as well, registering a 17-21-3 at the Prudential Center as opposed to their 21-18-2 road record.

The Devils play three games at home this week against the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, and Anaheim Ducks. Keefe is certainly looking to nip this in the bud.

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