Pandolfo's streak to end

Left wing Jay Pandolfo said he will not play in Friday night's home game against Montreal because of the "pelvis area" injury he sustained in the third period of Wednesday's 4-2 win over Dallas. "I won't be able to play tomorrow," he said. "It's disappointing. You never want to be hurt, but, hopefully, it's not that bad. I think it's day to day."

Pandolfo's ironman man streak will end at 307 consecutive regular season games (the third longest in team history). He last missed a regular season game on Jan. 18, 2003 against Carolina because of a mild concussion (that was the last of four consecutive games he sat out). He did not rule out playing in Sunday's home game against Atlanta.

Pandolfo, who was at Prudential Center today for treatment and did not practice, was still vague about the exact nature of his injury, but did say it was "in the pelvis area" and not his groin muscles. He fell after taking an off-balance shot and slammed back first into the boards.

"I hit my lower back against the boards, but it kind of shifted everything in front," Pandolfo said. "It shifted my pelvis. I feel a lot better actually this morning than I did last night."

Center John Madden was the only other player to sit out today's practice, but he said it was just for "a little extra rest." Devils coach Brent Sutter said the coaching staff has discussed dressing seven defensemen again in Friday's game because Pandolfo won't be able to play, but won't make that decision until Friday morning.  Although Sutter wouldn't commit to it, he seemed to be leaning toward putting defenseman Andy Greene back in the lineup after he was healthy scratch Wednesday. Greene was paired with Paul Martin in today's practice. Mike Mottau, who played Wednesday, was paired with Johnny Oduya (also a healthy scratch Wednesday).

Sutter also put Colin White with Karel Rachunek in another pairing. Vitaly Vishnevski and Sheldon Brookbank were the only defense duo from Wednesday's game to stay together.

Today's line combinations and defense pairs:

Forwards: Parise-Elias-Gionta; Zubrus-Zajac-Langenbrunner; Rupp-empty-Clarkson; Brylin-Pelley-Asham.

Defense: Greene-Martin; White-Rachunek; Vishnevski-Brookbank; Oduya-Mottau.

 

Comments

[ZELDA SUCKs]

Zelda will miss Pando in the next game. What a shame that his Iron Man streak is ended. YO TG Zelda wants to know who now owns the Iron Man streak for Devils.

[Yaron]

Sucks about Pando, but good to hear its not the groin. Groin injuries have a tendency to be more serious than they are initially believed. Hopefully he can be back on Sunday.

[TG]

The Devil with the longest current consecutive games streak will now be Sergei Brylin, who has played in 270 regular season games in a row.

[Sarah]

Shame to see the streak come to an end. Glad it doesn't sound too serious though.

Didn't realize Sarge had played that many in a row. Gotta love it.

[Brian]

I definitely understand adding Greene back in with all the defenseman who played last night and going with 7 defenseman. I wonder if there was any thought put into having Pelley center a line with Madden at LW. I know they did it opening night and in the pre-season and it would make sense while Pandolfo is out.

[Jon]

Arg Bad news , hope its only one game

[Valkoon AKA Elias26]

I'm glad we got empty back. He was always one of my favs.

[Warren]

Tom raises a good point in his story concerning the ice at Pru Center. All we heard from Vanderbeek prior to the building's opening (in addtion to how they would be sold out every night)was this new system that was going to create the best ice in the league. Well, the building's been open a month...there is NOT an event every night like at the Garden...and now we here the ice is terrible.

What gives with this place?

[Warren]

Need to correct myself...I meant "now we HEAR the ice is terrible". My bad...