Devils Shakeup Lines Before Heading to Ottawa | NOTEBOOK

The Devils are heading out to Ottawa today to face the Senators on Saturday night, the beginning of a back-to-back weekend.

Check out the Devils Notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from today's practice session!

A Shakeup

No, not the earthquake that hit New Jersey just before the Devils taking to the ice in Newark, but a couple of line changes were made up-front.

Dawson Mercer was bumped up to practice alongside Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt was reunited with Jack Hughes, playing on Erik Haula's wing.

For the first time in quite some time, Nolan Foote was back on the ice with his teammates. He was in a regular practice jersey and took several rotations subbing in and out for both Mercer and Timo Meier on Nico Hischier's wing.

John Marino was missing from practice today, although interim head coach Travis Green shared that he will travel with the club to Ottawa, while his status to play tomorrow against the Senators is to be determined.

Max Willman was returned to the Utica Comets.

Lazar Named Masterton Nominee

Curtis Lazar was announced today by the PWHA New Jersey chapter as the Devils nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy. The award is given out each year to a player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."

“It means a lot," Lazar said, "I think this is the third time I’ve been nominated for respective teams. I do take a lot of pride in it, my career hasn’t always been that straight line trajectory. I think I just credit myself with sticking to the plan, fighting for every day in the NHL and it speaks a lot to the culture here with the guys who help me succeed in that spot. It does mean a lot.”

“Good character guy," added interim head coach Travis Green, "Been around the league now for a little while, he looks young but he’s been in the league a while. What people sometimes don’t understand is that players go through a lot on the ice, off the ice within their family and Lazer perservered through some tough things last year a little bit with his family, being away and his wife being pregnant and that’s not always easy. He’s been a constant pro through it all.”

“He’s a guy with a lot of energy, on and off the ice," Jonas Siegenthaler said, "He’s easy to talk to, he’s just a friendly nice guy. He brings a lot to this team. We really apprecaite him here. It’s nice having him around.”

A Final Stretch

With just six games remaining on the Devils regular season schedule, the team will be up against several teams who are either in the playoffs or right on the cusp of clinching. While the Ottawa Senators are not one of those teams, the Devils will face the Maple Leafs, Predators and Flyers to close out their regular season. This is a group that no matter their situation, will play out their regular season to give themselves every bit of chance to the end. 

“We’re not going to fold, that’s not going to happen,” Tomas Nosek said, “Even if we don’t have a chance, we need to play every game 100 percent. Just focus on us and we’re good.”