The New Jersey Devils had a difficult night.
Following the Devils` 3-2 defeat to the Ottawa Senators, head coach Sheldon Keefe expressed strong dissatisfaction with his team`s performance, singling out one player in particular.
After the game, defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic mentioned to reporters that he believes the team needs to adopt a playoff mindset as they approach the crucial part of the season. It`s clear that Keefe disagreed with this comment and was not pleased with Kovacevic`s play on Saturday.
“Kovacevic simply needs to perform better. That would be beneficial,” Keefe stated in response to a question about the defenseman`s remarks.
The press conference concluded immediately after this statement.
Currently holding a seven-point lead for third place in the Metropolitan Division, Keefe`s Devils have been struggling recently, with only 4 wins in their last 10 games. Kovacevic, who signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension on March 7th, has generally been a reliable defender throughout the season but has a negative rating of minus-3 in the last five games.
The 27-year-old has taken on a top-four defensive role due to Dougie Hamilton`s injury. This season, Kovacevic has scored one goal and provided 16 assists, while also being among the team leaders with a plus-9 rating.
With 13 games remaining in the regular season, perhaps Keefe`s criticism can serve as a motivation for Kovacevic and the entire team to improve their play on the ice and let their actions speak louder.
