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Hall glad to be done with 'stressful' stretch vs. Oilers

Perry Nelson / USA TODAY Sports

He may not have closure, and surely still feels the sting, but Taylor Hall's never been more prepared to turn the page.

In the visitors locker room inside the shiny new arena in Edmonton, and after facing the Oilers - the club that drafted him first overall almost seven years ago - for the second time in five nights, Hall was able to breathe a massive sigh of relief.

"On a personal level I'm glad to have these games out of the way," Hall said in his scrum. "Not in a sense that I was dreading them, but it's a lot to take. All and all, I had a fun night (with) the ovation. And I think even got booed a little bit by the end; I think you could say I'm a former player now after you get booed.

"These last six or seven days have been kinda stressful, just not knowing what to expect and having you play your former team. But we got two points out of the two games. (It) should have been a lot more."

Hall has been markedly transparent since he was dealt to New Jersey for his exact opposite: lead-footed stabilizing defender Adam Larsson. He hasn't tried to hide the fact he was hurt by the move, and that it's affected him throughout his first three months as a Devil.

Part of it was being discredited as a player, as well as his love for the city, his teammates, and the desire to see it through with the Oilers. But feelings of apprehension, and not knowing what to expect in the lead-up to his return, factored in as well.

"I said it was a weird night the first (time) playing. Tonight was just a whole different level," Hall said. "Even though I have never played in this building before, hearing that from the fans and seeing the video, it was all kind of surreal.

"It's a night I will remember for a long time. I was very very grateful for the applause, and the way people have treated me since I've been here has been awesome."

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