I will break down two #NJDevils goals directly resulting from D men playing as "forwards". Both are great examples of how the D are consciously looking to continue OZ possession time and create offensive scoring chances under Coach Ruff.

#5D(Carrick) joins the rush as F3. (The Devils' D, when it's the correct read, are no longer sitting back.) After a pass from #44 (Wood), #5D holds onto the puck, pulls it through his legs, and skates instead of shooting a low % shot from the point.

#5D gains strongside position on the defender below the goal line going around the net (using the "net" also to cut off the defender). Finds #97F (Gusev) net-front who makes a sick backdoor pass to #37F (Zacha), and the rest is history.

#40 (Jacobs) Red D fades in low below the top of the OZ circles when he reads #19F (Zajac) coming around the net. Instead of going back up to the blue line after NOT receiving a pass, #40D skates below the OZ goal line.

#19F cycles the puck to #40D, making a one-touch pass to #39 (Merkley) in the slot, who makes no mistake. (Merkley did an excellent finding what we call the "soft space" between the two white defenders.)

For full highlights of the game, visit #NJDTV https://www.nhl.com/devils/video/highlights--red-4-white-2/t-277437418/c-7168627