Pandolfo: "I'm probably not going to play"

Although left wing Jay Pandolfo made it through another full practice skating on the checking line with John Madden and David Clarkson, he said it's unlikely he'll play Friday night against the Rangers or Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Pandolfo has been out since Nov. 28 with a pubic bone ligament injury.

"I don't think I'm ready for tomorrow," he said. "We'll see how I feel tomorrow, but I think I'm just getting better every day. I had two really good practices, but I'm probably not ready for this weekend."

Pandolfo said he could use more practice time after being out for more than two months. Monday's game against Pittsburgh might be a more realistic target.

"I'm probably not going to play this weekend," Pandolfo said. "I'm not totally where I want to be now. I've been out for two months now, so I don't want to come back too early. This is an important part of the season toward the end of the year, so I want to make sure I'm 100 percent when I come back."

When I suggested that he might sandbagging and we might see him in uniform against the Rangers, he insisted he wasn't. "I wouldn't do that," he said. "I'll tell you wen I'm coming back."

Right wings Brian Gionta (lower body injury) and Jamie Langenbrunner both said they expected to play against the Rangers after getting through this morning's practice with no problems. Devils coach Brent Sutter said he would go back to dressing 12 forwards and six defensemen. Andy Greene appears to be the likeliest to come out on defense.

Sutter stopped practice at one point  and jumped on the ice to yell at Greene about his positioning in front of the net during one situational drill. Actually, Sutter was quite animated today and yelled a few times.

"Andy's mindset was to back away from the net and allow the goaltender to see the shot instead of taking his man in the slot," Sutter explained. "The man still is the most important thing. You've got to be able to do both. You have to be able to take your man and at the same time try not to screen the goaltender. Yet, his idea was to release away from the net. That's where we've gotten out of sync."

Today's line combinations and defense pairs:

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

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

Comments

[Glen]

TG, do you think we'll see Cam Friday?

[JJ]

As much as I'd like to see him out there, I'm glad to see Jay is thinking team first rather than put himself out there when he's not at 90-100% (as if he'd think anything else). Tomorrow's game is HUGE and we have to win it. Not just because it's the Rangers, more so to wash the bad taste from our mouths after these past two come from ahead losses.

[TG]

Sutter said yesterday that Cam's status would depend on the health of other guys. With Langenbrunner and Gionta saying they're going to play, Cam probably won't.

Plus, he was on the fifth line today, so that wasn't a good sign.

Right now, the Devils have 22 active players and two on IR (Janssen and Pandolfo). Pandolfo will be back soon, so to activate Cam, they'll have to send someone down.

I have a feeling that it will be a while before we see him play for the Devils.

[DP]

i dont like the line of zubes, patty, and gio

[Ralph]

Honestly I just don't see a role or a need at all for Cam, send him down if he gets claimed so be it, odds are nobody will be in a hurry to claim a guy with his skillset coming off major surgery - I just don't see it.

[hoekster316]

Why Oduya is still in the lineup is beyond me...

[Gunther]

Johnny O is still in b/c it's only his second year in the league. He needs more time to develop. But gawd, some of his gaffes are just killing me. Rachunek, Greene, and a 4th to BUF for Campbell?

[Anthony]

The only thing about Cam IMO is that he brings a lot of energy, (to the fans as well as on the ice) some thing that has been lacking the past few games. Cam may just provide a spark that could break the funk. I say sit Asham or Pelley for a game and see how the hungry Cam preforms, if he blows goats send him down, however if does bring that energy keep him around for another game see how goes game to game.

[Anthony]

The only thing about Cam IMO is that he brings a lot of energy, (to the fans as well as on the ice) some thing that has been lacking the past few games. Cam may just provide a spark that could break the funk. I say sit Asham or Pelley for a game and see how the hungry Cam preforms, if he blows goats send him down, however if does bring that energy keep him around for another game see how goes game to game.

[scottyc]

let cam play, he brings so much energy, the fans love him, the team needs a spark, even doc and chico mention him about every game ... sit asham already, he was a waste of a signing

[cj241]

Wait, Johnny O. is in because it's only his 2nd year? HE SUCKS!!!

Why he's in the line-up over Andy Greene is beyond me. I'm not the coach though...

[Ralph]

for those who want Cam to play who gets sent down to Lowell?

[Pat D'Amico]

Come on Greene get your head in the game, I wanna see you out there.

[MikeDeadworks]

for those who want Cam to play who gets sent down to Lowell?

Posted by: Ralph | January 31, 2008 at 03:24 PM

yea that is a really good point, and i've been saying it since he got injured even in our early season slump play. That there isn't anyone on this team that should be held back for Cam to get the call. He just doesn't have the skills to hold his weight.

[Garrett]

Asham needs to be benched for 2 or 3 games. Send him a message because he's been invisible out there for quite some time now....

[Ralph]

Garrett - you're missing the point, somebody would have to get sent down.

[Garrett]

I know.....I'm not saying bench Asham and put in Janssen. I'm saying, bench asham and go with 7 dmen.

[scottyc]

in my opinion who should be sent back lowell??? two words johnny oduya its enough already, i wish sutter wasnt so down on greene. even though he is rafalski jr i feel much more confident with andy then johnny, wouldnt mind seeing big sheldon and V back together again also ... brookbank is just sitting around also, he should be playing keeping his skills up ... right now i would rather see greene and jannsen then oduya and asham ... give cam a shot, come on now we all know he isnt the best skill wise, neither is asham, but watch an interview with him, nobody can question his heart and his will to work ... cam the slam baby ... if you want to respond harshly to this please reread the 1st 3 words

[Maxwell]

I think it's good Pando isn't pushing it. I wouldn't want to lose him again if he comes back too early. I'm looking for him to play in another 307-game streak as soon as he does return...

As far as making a deal in the next few weeks, I realize that Doug Murray is only in his second year, but I think he would definitely fit into Sutter's system. I don't think it would be a big headline trade, but its impact could be very profound for this team right now.

Whether or not we try and get a guy like Murray, IMO, will make the difference between making it past the first round of the playoffs or not. Honestly, at times I think that we are going to fall into a skid (like the beginning of this season) and not even make the playoffs. Obviously I am trying to push that thought out of my head, but watching the last two games really reinforces that opinion. It's pretty scary.

TG - Do you have an opinion on Murray, or even know anything about the possibility of trading for a guy like him?

[Skillet]

Send down Oduya and Asham and use Greene/Brookbank and Janssen. I think Oduya has been given enough chances but he continues to make mistakes, sending him to Lowel will have develop his game. I have given up on Asham, he was good the first couple of weeks into the season but since then he is unnoticable. He does not hit or fight so that pretty much makes him useless.

Janssen is smart and gets under the skin of other players, all succesful Devils team had players like him, Grant Marshall, Bobby Holik, Claude Lemiuex... Janssen may not have their offersive skills but he is as energentic and pesky as they we're. Give it a try Sutter.

[ALEXNJD]

Hey Maxwell its not only last 2 games, I would say last 4 home games.Just the way they blew the lead 3 times in those games and by statistic when Devils leading after 2 going in to 3rd we had like 17-1-1 record.

[TG]

I'm not sure why you picked someone as bland as Murray. He has a good plus-minus this season, but I really don't put a lot of stock in that stat. Johnny Oduya, who many of you dislike, is plus-8.

I don't know why the Sharks would trade him either. He makes no money ($550,000).

[Maxwell]

Yeah that's a very good point. When this team is off, it's a very pitiful sight.

[MoonDragn]

So thats why Greene has been benched recently. Makes sense now. I see Sutter's point and it could be a weak point in his game. However, its not like Oduya or anyone else on this team does any better job at it. In fact I almost rather Greene not screen Marty than having him cover the passer.

[Devs4Life]

Will someone please tell sutter to rid this team of oduya?
and for crying out loud, we need Cam to play friday so we can at least look energized.