Greene, Oduya back in

With left wing Jay Pandolfo sitting out with his "pelvis area" injury, the Devils will go with seven defensemen in tonight's game against Montreal at Prudential Center.

Andy Greene and Johnny Oduya, who were both healthy scratches for Wednesday's win over Dallas will both return to the lineup. Sheldon Brookbank will be the odd man out on defense this time. Head coach Brent Sutter said he wanted Brookbank to watch a game, as Greene and Oduya did on Wednesday.

"We just thought it would be good for both of those young kids to watch a game," Sutter said. "It's beneficial for young players and it's what we're doing with Brookbank tonight. He'll go through the same experiences that (Greene) and Johnny went through last game."

It was only an optional morning skate again and Brookbank, Mike Rupp and Kevin Weekes were the only ones to take the ice.

Pandolfo said he was feeling better again after receiving treatment at Prudential Center this morning, but doubts he'll be ready for Sunday's game against Atlanta. "I don't know," he said. "I'd have to feel a lot better tomorrow for Sunday to be a possibility."

Rather than replace Pandolfo with someone specific on the checking line with John Madden and David Clarkson, Sutter said he would, "roll different guys there. We had different guys who can play there, so we'll see how it unfolds throughout the game," Sutter didn't get into specifics, but Sergei Brylin and Rod Pelley would be likely candidates"

Enforcer Cam Janssen said he skated Thursday for the first time since his Oct. 4 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He took today off, though. He admitted he probably won't play before New Year's. "If it were up to me, I'd play tonight, but I've got to wait" he said. "I've got to take my time."

 

Comments

[Mike]

Tom, is Sutter still sticking to yesterday's defense pairings?

Will it be:

Greene-Martin
White-Rachunek
Vishnevski-Mottau/Oduya

[Devilswede]

Brookbank has played well. He and Vishnevski just started to get comfortable to eachother, they finished with +2 against Dallas. But I'm guessing Sutter wants faster d-men in against a team like Montreal. They're a skating team, so that's probably why Oduya and Greene are back in. Brookbank is a bit slow.

[TG]

Only three guys skated, so I have no new info on the pairings. Something will have to change with Brookbank not playing. Sutter gave no clues. Mottau and Oduya have played together a lot, so I guess they'll be together.

[MoonDragn]

I think it should be :

White - Rachunek
Martin - Greene
Mottau - Brookbank
Oduya

[matt]

i'd like to see
Martin-White
Greene-Rachunek
Mottau-Vishnevski

balanced lines. smooth skaters and the more physical guys

[Jon]

TG I'm curious about this, what forward sits when Janssen comes back? Clarkson? Asham Pelley? Seems to me there all 10 times the player Janssen is....Janssen's role is not needed on this team, we already have guys that can fight. (Clarkson Asham Brookbank and Rupp who has been scratched.....The difference is there are all way more skilled the Janssen and can do more then just fight and check.. So imo he is not needed.

[TG]

It's a good question, Jon. It's possible the coaches will feel Janssen is better suited to playing just a few high-energy minutes a game than Rupp is. You never know what can happen in the next month either.

[Sarah]

Jon-- I've wondered this too. Remember that Cam didn't play super-regularly last season. Aside from the small number of minutes, he, like Rupp this year, often sat in favor of better skaters/offense. I have to wonder if he'll get rotated in for games against the big physical teams -- the Flyers, for instance -- and games when Sutter sees a need for those "high energy minutes", as TG said, and otherwise they'll leave Clarkson/Asham in that spot. Just how I see it though -- god only knows what Sutter will do.

[Jon]

true thanks guys