After insisting multiple times yesterday that he takes responsibility for the Devils, Brent Sutter actually delivered self-imposed pressure to fix the team’s current crisis.
With the Devils having lost six straight games heading into tonight versus the Lightning, Sutter said yesterday he was “putting the heat on myself on this to get us through this and we will.”
The Devils, who are 0-5-1 in their last six, have not lost to Tampa Bay this year, beating the Lightning once in regulation and twice in shootouts.
The Devils have already clinched a playoff berth, so they’re not in danger of channeling the Mets in terms of postseason-costing collapses. But with only five games remaining in the regular season, the Devils are in danger of entering the playoffs on a horrible confidence-ruining skid.
Yesterday Sutter talked about how “you have to stay unified as a group.”
“And the coaching staff has to stay unified, and there has to be strong communication between the players and coaches. And sometimes players don’t like it. But it has to be that way. And this is where it’s so much about honesty and trust,” he said. “And it’s really important for the group inside to feel that way about each other and it’s very important for the staff to be very honest with the players going through it all, and working through it.
“And that’s my responsibility as a head coach. And that’s why I say I take responsibility. And it’s my responsibility to make sure that I’m there to help them and the staff, make sure that I’m the leader to help them through it. And that’s what we have to be. And that’s why I say, I’m putting the heat on myself on this to get us through this and we will. We’ve got a very good coaching staff here and we’ve got very good players. We just have to all be unified going through it and we will.”
Sutter said he will likely rest Martin Brodeur, who’s set to be honored before the game, and start Kevin Weekes.
“I think in respect to Marty, it’s a night for him [tonight] and just probably the right thing to do,” Sutter said.
Sutter believes the biggest Devil problem right now is “just mindset.” But Brodeur also pointed out, “We have a hard time killing penalties and we’re not getting any power play back.”
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Not only will Patrik Elias (lower body) be out again tonight, but Sutter is not guaranteeing he’ll be back before the regular season ends.
