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Devils’ Smith Reflects on March Schedule, Areas of Improvement

Lindy Ruff New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils have officially wrapped up their most challenging month of the season. They played 16 games in March earning a record of 8-5-3 and collecting 19 points. The club ended on a high note beating the New York Rangers by a final score of 2-1 in front of the 16,669 fans at Prudential Center on March 30.

“We’ve always kind of circled (March) as going to be a very difficult month,” said veteran Brendan Smith.

Related: Meet the New Devils: Brendan Smith

The month that was included 10 matchups versus teams who are currently in a playoff position including a three-game mini-series versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. Head coach Lindy Ruff proved to be a man of his word when he said he would use rest as a weapon as the team had scattered practices throughout March.

After a recent practice, I asked Smith’s thoughts on the team’s recent play and what needs to be focused on as the regular season winds down.

Concerns Versus Areas of Improvement

Ahead of the Devils’ game versus the Rangers, I asked Smith if he was happy with his club’s last handful of games and he quickly and honestly responded by saying, “I am not.” He continued to say, “we have to put a lot of things in perspective. (March) has been a really tough schedule. I think we’ve managed…we’ve got our wins and our points when we needed to.”

There were some tough stretches over the past few weeks including a three-game winless streak from March 14-18. The Devils found themselves giving up leads and allowing their opposition to cash in on mistakes in their own zone. After their 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers, Ruff said it was, “more than a punch in the gut.”

Lindy Ruff, New Jersey Devils (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

When I spoke with Smith I asked him about areas that the team needs to tighten up and if slow starts or giving up late goals remain concerns for the club.

“I wouldn’t say concerns,” he said. “Concern is too aggressive. I think areas of improvement maybe would be better terminology for that. Obviously, in the playoffs starts are imperative. I know that if you score the first goal in a playoff game, it’s like 60 percent or something crazy that the first team who scores wins. That’s a huge impact. I’ve always known that starts are very big.”


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