Pandolfo possible for Rangers
Jay Pandolfo was back in his old spot on John Madden's left wing for today's practice at Prudential Center and appears close to being ready to make his return to the Devils' lineup.
Pandolfo has been out since Nov. 28 with an injury to a ligament attached to his pubic bone. He was non-committal about whether he will be able to play Friday night against the Rangers.
"I don't know," he said. "I'll just see how I do in practice tomorrow."
It was a positive sign that Pandolfo made it through today's practice, a physically-demanding session that lasted about an hour. "That was my first practice where I was involved," he said. "So, I'll see how I feel tomorrow."
Right wing Brian Gionta did not practice today after suffering what appeared to be a left ankle or knee injury in the second period of Tuesday's loss to the Penguins. Gionta would only say it was a lower-body injury. He said was feeling, "better today" and expects to play Friday. "There's no sense pushing it with two days in between games," he said.
Devils coach Brent Sutter wasn't as sure about Gionta's status. "We'll see how he responds to treatment the next couple of days and see where he is," Sutter said.
Right wing Jamie Langenbrunner did not practice today after missing Tuesday's game with the flu, but said he was feeling better and worked out off the ice. He hopes to practice today and to play Friday.
Sutter didn't rule out playing Cam Janssen on Friday, but said it would depend upon the health of Gionta, Langenbrunner and Pandolfo.
With Gionta and Langenbrunner not practicing, Mike Rupp moved up to play with Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus and Arron Asham skated with Zach Parise and Travis Zajac.
Matt Halischuk, the Devils' fourth pick in last year's draft who scored the winning goal for Canada in the World Junior Championship, attended Tuesday's game.
Sutter's son, Merrick, watched today's practice from the stands.
Today's line combinations and defense pairs:
Forwards: Rupp-Elias-Zubrus; Parise-Zajac-Asham; Pandolfo-Madden-Clarkson; Brylin-Pelley-Janssen.
Defense: White-Mottau; Oduya-Martin; Vishnevski-Rachunek; Greene-Brookbank.
TG, can you ask Lou if Halischuk is going to be playing for the Devils this season?
Posted by: PT | January 30, 2008 at 03:03 PM
He can't until his junior season is over -- unless there's enough injuries that they need to recall him from junior on an emergency basis.
Posted by: TG | January 30, 2008 at 03:05 PM
@PT: I don't think Halischuk is good enough yet to play with the big club, but even if he were, he's out with a high ankle sprain.
Posted by: jules | January 30, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Nice, Rupp getting some time on the first line. With Zubrus on the other side, that is a BIG line.
Posted by: Jason | January 30, 2008 at 03:07 PM
That's apparently the reason Halischuk was in NJ -- to get his ankle checked by team doctors.
Posted by: TG | January 30, 2008 at 03:19 PM
TG, Was there any particular reason for Halischuk's visit or is it normal to see prospects at games every now and then? Could this mean that Lou will sign Halischuk to a entry level contract by the end of the season? I know Parise was signed late in the 2004 season, even though he didn't play for NJ or Albany until the following season.
Oh, and I wanted to ask you about something I read in Marty's book. Apparently there was a Devils beat writer who did something to have his/her press credentials revoked by the Devils. My guess is that it was Kara Yorio. Do you know more about this?
Posted by: FTC | January 30, 2008 at 03:23 PM
No Devils beat writer had his/her credentials revoked as far as I know and Kara Yorio definitely didn't have hers revoked (she went to Sporting News) I don't recall reading anything like that in Marty's book either.
Posted by: TG | January 30, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I'm definitely hoping that we can get Janssen into the lineup for the Rangers game. He may only be a fourth-line pugilist, but he's exactly the type of kick-in-the-pants the Devils need against the Rangers and Islanders, the likes of which they have yet to win a single game against this season. I also wouldn't mind seeing him beat the pulp out of a few Flyers, Downie and Cote in particular.
Posted by: hoekster316 | January 30, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Tom, did you happen to catch what the doctors said about Halischuk? I heard a high ankle sprain and that he'd be out for about a month, but it'd be interesting to hear what they have to say. It's certainly been a tough season for our prospects, health-wise.
Posted by: jules | January 30, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Damnit TG, now I'm going to spend the rest of my day flipping through his book.
Posted by: FTC | January 30, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Hopefully Rupper will get more time on the top line as today's practice lines indicate. He deserves it considering the way he's played the past few weeks. Now if we can get Asham to eat whatever Rupp has been eating...
Posted by: JJ | January 30, 2008 at 03:51 PM
The Devils rarely tell us anything specific about what the doctors say. The best we can get is something general from Lou Lamoriello. What I read is Halischuk will be out four weeks.
As for Rupp, he was on that line today mostly because Gionta and Langenbrunner didn't practice. He won't be there Friday if both of those guys play.
Posted by: TG | January 30, 2008 at 04:03 PM
Rupp hasn't been eating anything different besides possibly feeling some pressure to step up his game.
Rupp has been scratched for a few games, Asham has not.
Rupp probably got the notion with those scratches that if he doesn't step up his game, he'll be a healthy scratch on a regular basis once the entire team is healthy.
Asham is far overdue for some pressure to elevate his game with sittin a few out.
Posted by: matt | January 30, 2008 at 04:28 PM
Glad to hear Pandolfo is that close. The team needs some answers right now and I think having him back would be a big help.
I've said it before, but I also love the idea of having Cam in the lineup against the Rangers. Let him use that spark to get us going against them finally. We need a win.
Posted by: Sarah | January 30, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Did Pandolfo skate well or did he look like he was lagging behind a bit?
Posted by: Pat D'Amico | January 30, 2008 at 06:24 PM
He skated well. He beat Madden in one of the end to end sprints at the end of practice.
Posted by: TG | January 30, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Regarding Marty's book... I think he just said he doesn't talk to that reporter anymore, not that they are revoked. Kara Yorio was the first that came to my mind too because I think she did say something in a Sporting News about his indiscretions.
Posted by: Brodie30 | January 30, 2008 at 07:53 PM
Glad to hear Pando is getting better, really need him. But If you ask me, we need Cam to play Friday just as much as we need Pando. Any word on him getting to play, TG?
By the way, your blog rocks.
Posted by: Devs4Life | January 30, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Sutter said today Janssen's situation for Friday's game would depend on the health of the Gionta, Pandolfo and Langenbrunner.
By the way, those of you who've been hooked in by those ridiculous Phaneuf rumors might like to know that TSN is reporting that he's on the verge of signing a long-term extension with the Flames.
Posted by: TG | January 30, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Phaneuf to NJ rumors? I'd like to have some of whatever crack started that.
Posted by: jules | January 30, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Shrug, I like that top line the way it is, especially against the Rangers who are going to play physical and have owned us all season. God forbid our most underachieving player (Gionta) get his little feelings hurt by being demoted for a while.
Posted by: Jason | January 31, 2008 at 03:28 AM