Don't blame Mottau

Give Devils defenseman Mike Mottau credit for standing up and accepting blame for tonight's loss after his turnover led to the Josef Vasicek's shorthanded goal -- the only goal in the game. Too bad his teammates couldn't have picked him up by scoring a goal.

"Mistakes are going to be made, but I take full responsibility for that loss," Mottau said. "Unfortunately, that mistake was the deciding factor in the game."

Mottau said his skate caught a rut in the ice when he was backpeddling, causing him to fall backward in the right circle of the Devils' zone and turn the puck over to Vasisek. "I can't remember the last time I fell down skating backwards with the puck and no one around me," he said. "It's a bad feeling when that's the deciding factor in the game."

Mottau's teammates defended him, though.  "It's not his fault," said right wing Brian Gionta, who immediately gave Mottau a pat to console him on the bench. "We're not going to win games without scoring goals. It's an unfortunate break. You've just got to forget about it."

Comments

[John]

that statement by Gionta is more important that it looks IMO. A team that's struggling like the Devils are have to stick together because the second there starts to be division among the players, THAT is when this team is going to actually have a problem.

Very nice on bother their parts Mattau for taking the blame and Gio for defending him regardless of cicumstances.

[LK]

Time to fire Lamoriello...or at least make a couple of trades?

[Shari]

Mottau is not the problem, the Guy clearly lost and edge and fell down, he tried like heck to stop the puck, You can't blame Him for that at all. If this team was playing "all for one" like they used to do, on the kill or not, someone else on the ice would have been there to back Him up.I could be way off but, the Guys are moving and working hard I won't deny that but they look miserable out there (I know that losing will do that but it's something else)there is no intensity,when is the last time anyone on the ice cracked a smile? I thought that Hockey and the whole living the dream thing was supposed to be fun, they look like everyone else in the work force that does not like their job and has to roll out of bed on Monday morning. (I think You get the point)The sad stunned look on Martys face said it all, I know that the Team is in a re growth phase and all but these Guys are living a dream,there are a ton of Guys that are trying to make it to "The show" and will never get the chance,they need to stop gripping the sticks too tight and go back to basics and remember a time when the game was fun, things will turn around for this Team it's only a matter of time. someone please pass the koolaide.

[Nathan - formaly 'Sutter means win']

Mottau's not the problem... but Mottau and all the rest of the D are the problem. Martin is the only one whose even been with the team for decent amount of time and now hes out like white. Chico said last night "watch the devils first passes out of the zone, that will tell how the period is going to go". He was referring to 'IMO' how the D consistently are not consistent or crafty enough to set the forwards off. When the puck goes into our zone and the D get it and look up ice its like a magical journey into the unknown every time. Once the forwards actually get the puck things settle a bit.

I might be mistaken but I think the only recent wins we've had have come from the games where Sutter played 7 defenseman.... that should say something.