How Taylor Hall is taking charge for the Devils

This is Taylor Hall battling through some fatigue.

And that has to be a very scary proposition for the Devils’ opponents. Because, admittedly not at 100 percent as the Devils conclude a grueling stretch of seven games in 12 days when they face the Panthers on Monday night at Prudential Center (Faceoff: 7 p.m.; Television: MSG Plus; Radio: WFAN-101.9FM/660AM), Hall is still playing the most dominating and most inspired hockey of his time with the Devils since being acquired from the Oilers on June 29, 2016.

“This is an important part of our games,” said Hall, who leads the Devils with eight goals and 18 assists after extending his goal-scoring streak to two games and adding an assist in Saturday night’s 4-3 overtime win at Detroit. “Every team has to battle through fatigue and injuries. The fact that we’re able to bank some points and get some wins on the board is great.

“I definitely don’t have 100 percent energy right now,” Hall added. “I’m sure a lot of the guys are the same. You’ve just got to battle through that. The identity of our team has to shine every game, even if we’re tired or a little bit battered up.”

The Devils (14-5-4) are seeking their third, three-game winning streak of the season – the last coming Oct. 27-Nov. 1 – and are 5-1-2 since a 2-1 win over the visiting Panthers on Nov. 11.

This despite two of the Devils’ top-six forwards being out with long-term injuries.

Left wing Marcus Johansson (concussion) has been sidelined since Nov. 1 and will miss his 14th straight game on Monday. Right wing Kyle Palmieri (broken right foot) is out four to six weeks after getting hurt blocking a shot this past Monday in a 4-3 overtime win at Minnesota.

Which puts even more of the onus on Hall, who tied Palmieri for the team lead with 53 points last season, to produce.

“I feel pretty good and the pucks are going in, which is nice,” said Hall, who beat Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek through his pads for a power-play goal to give the Devils a 2-1 lead at 13:21 of the first period and then set up Nico Hischier’s goal for a 3-1 lead at 6:12 of the third period with his strong forechecking.

“I feel like we’re generating chances,” Hall added. “I’d like to not be on the ice for that goal against at the end to tie it up [David Booth’s goal to make it 3-3 at 8:16 of the third period]. But, for the most part, offensively, as a group, we’ve found a way to generate offense all year long and I’ve got to be a big part of that.”

Devils coach John Hynes has looked for ways to maximize the surge he’s gotten from Hall, who has three goals and six assists over his last seven games.

On Saturday, that meant double shifting Hall across the Devils’ lines starting in the first period, in part to keep Hall away from matchups advantageous to the Red Wings and also to get Hall engaged from the opening faceoff.

Hall, though he didn’t get an assist on the play, was also on the ice with center Brian Boyle and Miles Wood when Boyle deflected in defenseman Steven Santini’s point shot to tie the game at 1 at 9:12 of the first period.

“Right now, he’s playing fantastic,” Hynes said. “He’s got tons of energy. He can log big minutes and it doesn’t affect his play. He’s one of these guys right now you can put him with anybody and he’s difficult to defend.”

“It’s different,” Hall added of playing with so many line combinations in a game. “You just want to make sure you try to play to the guys on the ice strengths. Everyone has got a different skill set. You’ve got to play to that and make plays whenever you can.”

E-mail: grossa@northjersey.com