Sorry everyone. I was hit with the flu pretty bad Saturday night after the game and was out of commission for a while. After talking with Patrik Elias today, it sounded like we had similar ailments. I'm better today, though, and made it to practice.
Elias also is better and said he will play in Wednesday' night's game against Dallas. He went back to centering a line with Zach Parise and Brian Gionta in today's practice, but was dropped to the second power play unit with Dainius Zubrus and John Madden up front. It looked like Mike Mottau and Karel Rachunek on the points on the second unit. The first unit was Parise-Zajac-Gionta and Langenbrunner-Martin.
Anyway, with Elias coming back, that means the Devils will likely go back to dressing six defensemen. From watching today's practice and hearing coach Brent Sutter's comments afterward, it appears Karel Rachunek will be back in after missing the last three games. Sutter also had nice things to say about Mottau and his contributions on the power play recently might give him an edge.
Judging by today's pairings (White-Martin; Vishnevski-Brookbank; Rachunek-Mottau; Greene-Oduya), that could leave Andy Greene and Johnny Oduya as the two defensemen out. That's just speculation on my part, but Sutter said of Rachunek, "We've got to get him back in the lineup."
Sutter said the decision has yet to be made other than that Elias will definitely play.
"If we got with 12 forwards, we'll have to sit two (defensemen)," Sutter said. "If we go with 11 forwards, we'll have to sit an extra forward. We're going to meet on that this afternoon."
Right wing Cam Janssen (right shoulder surgery) was to skate for the first time this morning, but I have yet to receive confirmation that he did. If I do, I'll post it later.
Martin Brodeur will be start in net again. Defense pairs are listed above.
The forward lines: Parise-Elias-Gionta; Zubrus-Zajac-Langenbrunner; Pandolfo-Madden-Clarkson; Brylin-Pelley-Asham; Rupp (extra).
OK I'm beginning to get a little confused. I really haven't questioned many of Sutter's moves until now but I really don't know what to say at this point. Why oh why sit Greene (if that is indeed happening)? He has been pretty solid and definitely one of our best defensemen. Also why move Elias back up to first? Why not keep the lines together? It's getting a little frustrating...
Posted by: Yaron | November 27, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Sorry to bring up attendance again, but the Islanders had just a hair over 8,000 at their game last night against the Stars and no one in the press has said a word. Now when we have 13,000 against the Stars tomorrow night I guarantee AP will say something about it.
As for actual hockey, our Devils have to play a mistake free game against Dallas, as it seems they capitalize on every mistake.
Posted by: Billington4Vezina | November 27, 2007 at 02:43 PM
How is benching Greene any kind of defensive solution? As mentioned, this is speculation based on the practice's defensive pairings and the comment of Karel getting back in the lineup. 27 and 29 should be sitting. In a perfect world they are not even on the big club.
Dallas is playing well and should be a formidable opponent. Devils need to ride the momentum and continue stringing wins together. The under .500 record at the rock must improve. It starts with a W tomorrow.
Posted by: Air Silks | November 27, 2007 at 02:44 PM
If Andy Greene indeed is sitting then Sutter is even dumber than I thought. It just makes no sense.
We'll be facing a hot goaltender in Mike Smith tomorrow, so hopefully the boys will be ready to play. Dallas has won 6 straight. Hopefully our winning streak keeps on rolling and their ends tomorrow! GO DEVILS!
Posted by: Devilswede | November 27, 2007 at 02:56 PM
Somehow, I've got to think Greene ends up in the lineup. He can't be good enough to be in the three-man rotation with White and Martin, facing the top lines in Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and then be out for the next game. I guess we'll just have to wait and see tomorrow, though.
Posted by: TG | November 27, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Given the way Sutter thinks, its more likely that Brookbank-vishnevski pair would sit.
Dallas' strength is on defense. Therefore we're probably going to need more mobile D than Brookbank or Vishnevski. Benching Greene would be silly, especially against Dallas.
Posted by: MoonDragn | November 27, 2007 at 03:52 PM
Greene is in his first full NHL season and only his second pro season after playing shorter college hockey seasons. Since he is a smaller defenseman I would expect his play to drop off as the season goes on and his body wears down unless the Devils find a way to rest him periodically. A player not playing in a game isn't always an indictment against the player.
Posted by: Scott | November 27, 2007 at 04:00 PM
I'd be shocked if Vishnevski-Brookbank come out. They're locked in as the 3-4 right now.
Posted by: TG | November 27, 2007 at 04:06 PM
Hope you’re feeling better, Tom. Try not to overdo it. Thanks for the update.
As for sitting Greene, I hope people realize that it’s just speculation and nothing’s set in stone. He might still play tomorrow, no reason to start bashing Sutter for a decision he has yet to make. For all we know, Oduya sits tomorrow and the Devils go with 7 dmen.
Posted by: jules | November 27, 2007 at 04:20 PM
Can I get an update on the quicker driving route from lower Bergen County? Route 21 South or NJ Turnpike to 280 West? Thanks.
Posted by: Pat | November 27, 2007 at 04:37 PM
TG, I'm glad that You are feeling better, it's good to have You back on the job. I'm not the only fan that wants to know this, Do You know why Jamie is called Lip/Lipper?
Posted by: Shari | November 27, 2007 at 07:09 PM
Shari, One of my customers played minor league hockey and grew up with Langs. I'll ask him tomorrow when I get to work, he might know. Unless someone else posts it first.
Posted by: Jersey Mike | November 27, 2007 at 07:37 PM
I truely have loved the majority of moves by Sutter, but he is really going to shake my trust in him if he benches arguably our most consistant defenseman all this season and the time he was with us last. Seriously though, Greene leads the team in plus/minus has decent production for someone so young and steady defensively (in the post stevens/neider era you can't really ask for both from to many guys) and to top it off was money against some of the best players in the league the last few games eg. Vinny, Kovalchuk, Hossa, etc. Common Sutter don't let me down bench the minor leaguer and Mattau (or is it minor leaguer and Oduya? some nights I can't tell...hehe).
Wonderful to have you back on the job TG!!
Posted by: Chris | November 27, 2007 at 08:58 PM
I decided to send Oduya to the minors and dress Greene in his place in NHL 08. Granted I do have the pleasure of Matvichuck's services, but Oduya is absolutely awful in the game. I think he's about a 69. Atrocious. Anyway, Mottau hasn't been too bad, Brookbank adds some needed size, and Rachunek deserves to get back in the lineup. I say ditch Oduya and then flip a coin to see which of Mottau and Brookbank take a seat because Greene definitely deserves to be in the lineup.
Posted by: Arteg | November 27, 2007 at 09:40 PM
yea i know they are a pairing, but push Oduya down and keep on Greene...idk who else to sit though.
OH And another thing, when cam gets back...HE MUST BE SENT TO LOWELL!!! It's imperative. He is of no use to this team, we can't have him mess up every single game for us. I can't stress enough how useless he is. He can't fight, what he does isn't fighting...getting wrapped up in an opponents jersey and trying (not succeeding) to shake an elbow pad off for 2 min. No good. I hope Sutter does the right thing. Sutter looks for players to produce and he doesn't. It sucks, i'm sure he is a nice guy. But we have finally rebuilt this team with promising talent that meshes. We can't bring him on and drop anyone else. Who could we lose more often, Mike Rupp? I think Rupp plays too little as it is. Rupp > Cam
Posted by: Mikedeadworks | November 28, 2007 at 12:16 AM
Cam's on a one way contract. If he's sent to the minors, he's got to go through waivers. As decent as Pelley's been playing this year, Cam's far more entertaining to watch. Last year that didn't necessarily equate to losses and he finished up with a -2. Personally I'd like the see him and bash brother Asham resurrect a crash line along with Rupp.
Posted by: Uli_Heimer | November 28, 2007 at 02:15 AM
Glad to hear you are feeling better TG.
Posted by: Jen | November 28, 2007 at 07:44 AM
I agree about Greene. Brookbank has elevated Vishnevski's game, but he's rather slow, so he should be benched for Greene. Keep Mottau and Greene together like they were on Saturday evening, and play Rachunek with Vishnevski.
If the team is afraid of losing Janssen on waivers, then I think Mike Rupp's time as a Devil would be coming to an end. Pelley has been playing some good defensive hockey for the team, is on one of their PK units with Brylin. Waive Rupp and send him to Lowell, and Janssen could be the extra forward. Also, I don't see the team keeping 8 d-men long term, so maybe Oduya would be send to Lowell, and Rupp/Janssen would be the extra forwards.
Posted by: Mike | November 28, 2007 at 09:03 AM
He was a -2 basically cause he never played the puck. It was rare he had possesion and if he ever did it was a pass right away. It's not that he lost games for us last seaason, but this season he would. Asham is really smart in knowing when and when not to start a fight depending on how the flow of the game is. Clarkson is decent at that too.
As for Pelley, I like him, I see a lot of promise. At times he seems a little hesitent, but as he gets more comfortable I see him being a 15-20 goal scorer.
Also I think Bergfors should be brought back up maybe for a 3-4 game stint. He's produced well for lowell and if I remember correctly he had a minor shoulder injury in the first game, which is why I feel he got pushed back down so quick. Sutter wanted to cut someone loose having so many players to decide upon and Nicklas being hurt and not going on IR made him a good canidate.
Posted by: Mikedeadworks | November 28, 2007 at 10:26 AM
I dont think Andy Greene sits. I will be shocked. Do you think that the Devils had too much time off between games and wont be as crisp at the start of tonites game?
Posted by: RadioHead | November 28, 2007 at 11:06 AM
I think we could do without either Rupp or Cam on this team. We have enough guys who can fight and have that grit that we don't need guys like them who can't contribute to the point production. Asham looks really good and is a solid 3rd liner. Clarkson has so much potential and can fight too. Thats two people better than Rupp and Cam.
For the D, Mottau has been looking better and better, I say we sit the guys with the worse +/-. That would be Brookbank and Vishnevski.
If we keep one of them, then definately sit Oduya. I can't stand the heart attacks every time I watch him drop a stick, misplay the puck or just fall down for no reason.
Posted by: MoonDragn | November 28, 2007 at 11:17 AM
What serious "potential" do you see in Clarkson? He has 2 goals. Honestly, he looked better as a call-up last year. From what I have seen, he is a poor man's Sean Avery, who is himself, a very very poor man's Claude Lemiuex. Basically, an annoying guy that can draw the occasional penalty, but with no serious talent. That being said, I think he has slightly more upside than Rupp and certainly more than Cam (minus the crowd favorite), but I think you send Clarkson down for Rasmussen, and you'll see no difference.
Posted by: Jason | November 28, 2007 at 11:35 AM
I disagree. So far I've seen Clarkson put a goal in on a good pass from Madden, and a solo goal where he out deked the goalie. He has very good stick handling skills. If he spends more time practicing 2 on 1s and 3 on 2 rushes I think he can get us more goals easily. He needs to stop taking dumb penalties and concentrate on shooting the puck.
He has a talent of drawing defenders on him, which also helps his linemates alot in having open ice to shoot the net.
Clarkson is way better than Rass.
Posted by: MoonDragn | November 28, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Well, I hope so. Because a nasty guy that can also score, and some general toughness, is what this team has been missing for a long time.
Posted by: Jason | November 28, 2007 at 02:36 PM
Dammn all naysayers, that was a nice wraparound Clarkson just scored.
Posted by: Uli_Heimer | November 28, 2007 at 08:39 PM