Yahoo Sports 'Let's Perfect The Simple Stuff': Devils Forwards Needs To Take Note Of Fourth Line's Play
New Jersey Devils team reporter Sam Kasan best described the team's first goal against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday afternoon.
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"The (Dougie) Hamilton goal is a great example of simple fundamentals. It was a dumped puck, regain possession, low to high, screen, shot, goal. Tomas Tatar lifted the puck into the zone. Nathan Bastian made a nifty move to get inside leverage on Scott Laughton to regain possession. He worked the puck back to Hamilton at the point. Hamilton's shot eluded goaltender Samuel Ersson for the tally."
As Kasan said, it is simple fundamentals, something the Devils desperately need to get back to.
New Jersey lost 3-1 in a Saturday matinee at Prudential Center. Hamilton scored the Devils' lone goal, while the Flyers received goals from Matvei Michkov, Bobby Brink, and Travis Konecny.
After the game, Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke about his team needing to simplify.
"Bastian again tonight, just hard, simple hockey," Keefe said. "That was the message to the group. Let's perfect the simple stuff first before we start complicating things."
New Jersey's fourth line of Tomas Tatar, Curtis Lazar, and Bastian was New Jersey's most consistent against the Flyers. The trio played with the most pace and seemingly had the most energy.
The Hockey News asked Keefe about Lazar's line, and the head coach was complimentary of Lazar and Bastian's performance.
"I've been happy with them no matter who has been with them," Keefe said. "Lazar and Bastian, I think since coming back in, after both guys missed a significant amount of time, I feel like they are getting their legs. Those guys give me everything they have. They take the coach's message, they take the plan, they go out, and they adhere to it. They work, and they compete. I think the game has been well taken care of when they are out there for us.
"They are limited players, you know? They really just have to go out there and take care of the game and set up the next line," he continued. "[...] They have been building positive momentum. Before they got injured, those guys were important players for us, too. They take the message, they take the plan, they go out and do what they are asked."
Players like Lazar and Bastian don't stray from the system their head coach implements. Their play is based on structure, while more creative players have the skill set to deviate and make highlight-reel plays.
With the Devils winless in regulation since Jan. 6, the team needs to, at least at the moment, take note of how Lazar's line has been playing and prioritize hard, simple hockey.
"I think we need a little bit more of that all the way through our group," Keefe said. "Take care of that first, and then everything else will start to fall into place because they're too good of players not to."
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