NEWARK — Has Jaromir Jagr lost faith in the Devils?

Not exactly, but the veteran winger doesn't believe a three-day Christmas break will be the cure for the team's mounting troubles.

"A break? I don't believe in this," Jagr said after the Devils' 2-1 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. "You can't have a break and after three days with the holidays and without a practice are we going to be the best team in hockey? I don't believe that. I believe in hard work, but I'm different."

Jagr was not implying that Devils coach Pete DeBoer should have scheduled more practices. He acknowledged that a heavy schedule and a long list of injuries and illnesses have made it virtually impossible to have productive practice sessions needed to create chemistry.

"No. We have so many injuries. We have so many games. You cannot (schedule practices). It's impossible," Jagr said.

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The Devils blew a 1-0 lead midway through the third period and then lost when Carolina's Chris Terry scored the only goal in the shootout. Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri and Adam Henrique were unable to score for the Devils.

Throughout the game the Devils generated little offense. They were outshot by the Hurricanes, 15-3, in the second period and 33-19 overall.

"(It's) a lack of scoring. I think a lack of confidence, too," Jagr suggested. "I think it has to do with the practices. We're going to have less games, so we're going to have a chance to practice more. I think it's going to help us for sure. It's going to help me. I cannot talk for everybody else."

DeBoer spoke about the struggle to score.

"We've got seven regulars out of the lineup and (this was) probably the toughest month of hockey we've got on our schedule," DeBoer said. "That had something to do with it."

Jagr, who scored 24 goals last season, has five so far this season.

The Devils' power play went 0-for-3 in the loss to Carolina, which could have been the difference.

"We're missing so many guys. We haven't had any practices and guys are coming in and out," Jagr said of the power play. "I'm not using it as an excuse, but that's what it is. Every power play you're playing with somebody else."

While Jagr's point about lack of practice was well-taken, DeBoer and several players felt the three-day break can only help the Devils.

"I think that's fair to say," DeBoer said. "It's been a grind of a month. I know no one wants to hear excuses and I'm not going to make any, but I'm definitely not going to throw our guys under the bus. If you're in our dressing room, our effort is there. We're working at it. You put other teams in the situation we've been in with seven regulars out of the lineup, it's not easy.

"Guys are trying. It's unfortunate we didn't get two points tonight. Our goaltender was excellent. We need to regroup here and get some bodies back."

So the break is welcome to some.

"I think we need to get away for a few days and clear our heads," goalie Cory Schneider said.

Stephen Gionta said: "Take a step back, reset, see how the first half went and what we can fix."

Mike Cammalleri isn't sure what the break will do, but figures it can't hurt.

"Do we need it? I don't know. Sure," Cammalleri said with not much more conviction than Jagr. "Regroup and start fresh."

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Rich Chere may be reached at rchere@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ledger_NJDevils. Find NJ.com on Facebook.