NEWARK - Devils general manager Ray Shero provided one key for the Devils to break out of their seven-game losing streak and month-long funk in three words.

"Play harder. Really. Play f---ing harder," Shero said. "There's a will that they need, there's a passion and emotion in your game. How many scrums have we been involved in? Nobody's mad at us.

"I'm not saying for anyone to fight at all. I'm just saying there's got to be pushback in your game, and pride in your game."

The Devils have dropped seven straight games, including a 5-1 pummeling against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. After a 9-3-3 start to the season, the Devils sit a 12-13-7, going 3-10-4 over their past 17 games.

While Shero is disappointed in how things have turned over the past month, he isn't necessarily surprised. After the Devils defied some odds in 2015-16 and surprised people, Shero told the team to expect tougher opposition this season. The Devils weren't going to be taken lightly.

Shero saw the battle and will that drove the success of last season, and it was there when the Devils played well in October and November.

When that work ethic drops even one ounce, Shero said it can lead to these types of struggles.

"Skill is going to get you so far, and the will is the other part," Shero said. "It's not that surprising, but it's disappointing. The last month, it's part of what John (Hynes) talks about ... It's the players, maybe it's human nature, that this year is a little more difficult for them."

For the Devils to get back to the team that caught the league off guard, Shero brought everything back to how the team carries itself each night on and off the ice.

"You have to have pride in anything you do. You can have a letter on your jersey, it doesn't matter. Equipment guys coming in every day, doing things the right way," Shero said. "Games like (vs. the Predators), it's more about pride and how you play. It's a hard game, and to be a good team in this league, you have to establish some consistency to our play. Right now, we haven't done that."

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.