Devils take punishment ride

This wasn't Herb Brooks making the 1980 U.S. Olympians do up-and-backs until they dropped following a poor effort in an exhibition in Norway, but it had a similar intention. Devils coach Brent Sutter was so unhappy with his team's effort in tonight's 5-0 loss to the Penguins that he had all of the players -- with the exception of goaltenders Martin Brodeur and Kevin Weekes -- take a part in a punishment stationary bike ride after the game that left them panting and soaked with sweat.

"We looked dead out there," center John Madden said. "We didn't have any second effort. We didn't win any battles. We didn't have any urgency tonight. That's something that as long as I've been here as a Devil, we've always had that. We always had an effort."

Sutter didn't think they had one tonight, so he made them work afterward.

Here's some of the highlights of his postgame press conference:

"Our effort was brutal outside of our goaltenders. If it wasn’t for the goalies, it probably would have been 8-0 or 9-0. To me, tonight was a total lack of professionalism by our commitment as individuals and as a group, our preparation for how to play. It’s totally unacceptable.

"I will not accept that. That’s not even close. That's players' accountability to the front of that jersey."

Sutter thought his players took the wrong message out of being given the day off Sunday after playing three games in four nights.

"We've been a pretty good team up to tonight in the last three or four games. I know one issue and it will be resolved so it won't happen again. We thought that they played a few games in a short period of time and we gave them the day off yesterday. I thought it affected us today. That's the players' responsibility and accountability to themselves and each other to make sure they came to the rink today ready for game day. Obviously, they weren't. I'm surprised. There's no other way to put it. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Our commitment tonight to being prepared was unacceptable whenever you play. This was a big divisional game and to come to the rink like that just doesn't cut it."

The power play failed to click on two early chances, went 0-for-4 for the night, and is just 2-for-33 over the last eight games.

"I think we get too cute on it. We look for too many easy plays," Sutter said. "We don't score enough ugly goals on it. Tonight has just been a reflection of how our power play has been going recently. Outside of (Travis) Zajac's line with (Brian) Gionta and (Zach) Parise, the three of them -- I'm not talking about Marty Brodeur, I thought Marty played well and I thought (Kevin Weekes) played -- so you take away those five hockey players and that leaves 15 guys. I thought Paul Martin was OK, but after that, I thought we had a lot of average players."

Comments

[John from Jersey]

The worst Devils performance I've seen in quite some time. I hope some heads roll. Sutter has every right to be mad, but the specialty teams are killing us. We can't get much worse than tonight. Oh, and Lundqvist got another shutout. He's the class of the NHL right now between the pipes. I wish the Devils were boring again like the Rangers.

[Jason]

Tom, would you agree this Devils team does not have a true identity anymore? In the past everyone knew what the Devils were all about. Now they are trying to be an aggressive, puck pursuing type of team and still be defensive as well. Do you think Lou will make a major move to put the "Sutter Stamp" on this team and give the Devils a new leader and identity?

[Yaron]

I actually turned the game off tonight after it got to 4-0. That is saying a lot since I turn off Devils game maybe once a season (last time I did it was the 8-1 shellacking to the Senators last year). I'm not too sure how good this team can be this year (so far it's not looking good), but Sutter has every right to put them through their paces. If anything, I'm proud of him calling them out. They are paid millions of dollars to be professional athletes, they need to start acting like it.

[Chris]

What was the question that Brent Sutter wouldn't answer?

[sutter means win]

Tonight was difficult, but its the system that matters and I still believe its coming on. The nhl is different and the old devils system wouldnt work anymore, not to mention we dont have the crew who used to do it. One powerplay goal early tonight and this would have been different. The devs were pressing hard early and multiple times were just off hitting the mark, yet after coming close not getting it, it seemed like the whole team just went soft across the board. This can be corrected and sutter's bike trip is an indication hes gonna push buttons until the team sees it.

[Brian]

Its nice to know Sutter was just as frustrated as us fans. Tonight was the worst game that I have ever been to, I really feel like we all deserve a refund as there was no effort or at least glimpse of energy by the Devils tonight. I hope Sutter continues to ride them hard.

[jss]

TG, i think its time for the devils to say goodbye to elias and i am sure if lou sits down with him to explore some options then elias could waive his no trade clause, how about sending him to toronto for mccabe or sharks for marleau?? TG what kind of a move do u expect lou to make in the next few weeks??

[sutter means win]

We shouldnt make any big trades until white and lang are accounted for. Elias is playing with Brylin and "an almost rookie", until hes on a real line he cant be looked too down on. When Lang gets back he might be the perfect match to Patrick to get him going, we can't say yet.

Furthermore with Matvichuk now on waivers and Lou at the helm there is more cap money to work with...

[2600]

you don't try to move a player like of Elias' caliber after this many games. If things stay the same with him into mid December, then Lou may start talking to other GMs to test the waters, but honestly I doubt it.

[jss]

Are you Kidding me, Elias sleep walked all of last season and well, well, well this year fully aware of his disappointing last season he has gotten worse, he has played to his potential only 1 or 2 games this year and thats not gona cut it with sutter. Elias has got to go Period.

[TG]

Elias is making $7.5 million this season. His cap hit is $6 million. To trade him, you have to find a team with that much cap space or take back a player who makes a lot of money that team is looking to dump.

The question Sutter said he wouldn't answer was, "Do you think a loss like that will knock some sense into them?"

[sutter means win]

You can't be kidding Me saying dumping Elias is the golden ticket to success. Perhaps we should have dumped Brodeur last season when he let the Hurricanes score from the worst angles over and over again. He sure as hell didnt start off swinging this season either, but hes certianly coming on now. People arent freakin robots, nothing has been stable with the team from the start this season, if things were going perfectly well it would be much more unusual then whats going on now. Honestly

[Joseph]

I have seen enough. My brother, a season ticket holder for over 12 years has NEVER left a game early no matter what the score was. Last night I was amazed when he and his wife left with 8 minutes to go in the 3rd. VERY disappointing game played.

[Mike Smith]

How many games can go by before our 6 million dollar man can SCORE A GOD DAM GOAL already? Lets go Elias! I watch other 6 million dollar guys around the league and they lift their teams on their backs. I don't see it from this guy anymore and his time will come to a close rather quickly in NJ if he doesn't start to figure it out!
We can get ANYBODY to NOT score goals and for a LOT LESS!

[wkmaier]

We left after the 2nd, it reminded me of a game at the Meadowlands a few years ago when the Devs lost to Phoenix, 3-0. At least there was a fight in the section next to us.

Could the Devils coach-killing ways be sharpening their claws again?

[Jeffsax]

Wake up Dev fans....Lou's mismanagement has given us a predominantly Junior team with a Junior coach. And the way he disses players ( giving rookies the jersey numbers of Stanley Cup heroes ie: Neider,Gomer) top players don't want to play for him or in Newark.

This is the beginning of the end fellow Dev fans. The Devs will be sold or fold in 3 years or less.

[Jeffsax]

LOU MUST GO.....DYNUS ZUBRUS...is there a GM in the league who would give Zubrus 6 years. Maybe Lou can bring back Mogilny or Malakoff or Koslov. If Vanderbeek has a hope of saving the Devils Lou Must Go...who opens a new rink, raises prices and fields a minor league team?

[justin]

jeffsax. dont be ridiculous. lou isnt going anywhere, and the devils wont be gone in 3 years. this may turn out to be a bad season, a rebuilding season, but its not the end. stop the nonsense.

[justin]

TG. what was the "one thing that will never happen again" that Sutter mentioned? It seemed kind of ominous and cryptic.

[HBK27]

Hey Jeffsax...nice to see Ranger fans post on this board as well. And who are these guys Dynus and Malakoff you speak of?

Really, only an idiot or non-Devils fan would be calling for Lou's head. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say you're the latter.

[Mike]

As pitiful as that game was from a Devils perspective I was happy to see Sykora have a good game. He's a great guy and I've always missed that chemistry he had with Elias. TG-did Sykora have anything to say about the new arena?

[TG]

He was talking about the players misinterpreting why they got the day off Sunday.

"The reason why they were given the day off (Sunday) was to give them a break mentally to get them recharged for today," Sutter said. "I just didn't think they responded to that very well. I think they thought it was a reward for what he accomplished in the last three games. That wasn't the case at all."

That doesn't mean he won't give them days off anymore. I think he just wants it to be clear they can't be satisfied. And making them hit the stationary bike after the game was part of making sure it won't happen again.

[Mike]

Sutter is the last guy to blame for this team. Lou put this aweful team together, he's really lost his touch since the lockout. It's time for him to own up to his mistakes (Zubrus 6yrs, Martin $3.8/yr, Rachunek, etc).

I was thinking the same thing about Elias, and I like the idea of a 1-for-1 deal with the Sharks for Marleau, or expand it to Elias and Brylin for Marleau and Mike Grier. The Sharks have plenty of cap room. Then work on the defense, how about trying to bring in another defensive defenseman. Then package Rachunek in a deal for another offensive defenseman.

[Mike]

Sutter is the last guy to blame for this team. Lou put this aweful team together, he's really lost his touch since the lockout. It's time for him to own up to his mistakes (Zubrus 6yrs, Martin $3.8/yr, Rachunek, etc).

I was thinking the same thing about Elias, and I like the idea of a 1-for-1 deal with the Sharks for Marleau, or expand it to Elias and Brylin for Marleau and Mike Grier. The Sharks have plenty of cap room. Then work on the defense, how about trying to bring in another defensive defenseman. Then package Rachunek in a deal for another offensive defenseman.

[Zavior]

As much as I hate to see my Devils lose, what really makes me sick to the stomach is when we cant get a single goal. The Devils have a 49.5 million dollar payroll and not one player could get a puck past a Penguins rookie goalie. I haven't seen the Devils get shutout this many times so early in the season.

I am lost for words as to how badly they played last night. I feel sorry for my fellow Devils fans that paid good money to see the game. This game was a slap in the face to the Devils fans. I hope Lou and Mr. Vanderbeek hear the cry for help their team is giving out, becuase one thing is for sure now, this team ain't going anywhere with the roster we have in place.

Zavior