Devils' Johnathan Kovacevic Responds to Sheldon Keefe's Criticism in Major Way
Photo credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Just days after being called out by Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe, defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic came through with a key defensive play on Monday against the Canucks.
Message received?
It was only days ago that New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic was brutally called out by head coach Sheldon Keefe following a loss to the Ottawa Senators.
And while Keefe's words drew varying degrees of reaction and scrutiny, it appears as though Kovacevic took them to heart.
During Monday's game against the Vancouver Canucks at Prudential Center, Kovacevic made a key defensive play sure to make Keefe smile:
On Saturday, Kovacevic said that the Devils as a whole needed more of a postseason mentality as their schedule winds down.
We have a pretty home-heavy schedule the rest of the rest of the way here. We got to make this place a hard place to play and a hard place to beat us. I think that's something that we want to take pride in.
We're in a fight, and hopefully that gets us in that playoff mentality 10-11, games out, and we carry that into the playoffs. Obviously the results are tough, but we're in a fight here, and we're not going to back down.
We're in a fight, and hopefully that gets us in that playoff mentality 10-11, games out, and we carry that into the playoffs. Obviously the results are tough, but we're in a fight here, and we're not going to back down.
Keefe responded with a brutally up front message.
Kovacevic just needs to play better. That would help.
He then abruptly ended the press conference, taking no more questions.
The Devils recently gave Kovacevic, who has 17 points (1G, 16A) in 71 games, a 5 year contract extension worth $20 million.
His keen defensive play on Monday should go a long way in helping Kovacevic re-establish some of his confidence, and hopefully won't go unnoticed by Keefe.
| POLL | ||
MARS 24 | 173 ANSWERS Devils' Johnathan Kovacevic Responds to Sheldon Keefe's Criticism in Major Way Was Sheldon Keefe too harsh toward Johnathan Kovacevic? | ||
| Yes | 86 | 49.7 % |
| No | 87 | 50.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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