Greene, Asham back in; Mottau, Pelley out

Saying he’s unhappy with the way defenseman Mike Mottau has played the last three games, Devils coach Brent Sutter will sit Mottau tonight against Anaheim and Andy Greene will play in his place.

Mottau, who scored the tying goal in the Devils’ 3-2 shootout loss in Buffalo on Wednesday, had played 36 consecutive games since he was last a healthy scratch on Nov. 14 against the Rangers. Greene has been a healthy scratch for the last four games and seven of the last eight.

“Motts isn’t in the lineup tonight because he hasn’t played well the last three games. There’s no sugar coating it,” Sutter said. “He’s got to get his game back. He’s got to play better and, at the same time, Greener gets an opportunity.”

Right wing Arron Asham will also get another chance tonight after being scratched the last two games. Rookie center Rod Pelley will sit in his place.

“He sat out the last two games now, so I how that the message is clear to him on how he needs to play, too,” Sutter said. “So, we want to put him back in there and see how he responds. He needs to play with that aggression and that intensity. Ash has got skills to go with that, but, to me, his skills flourish coming from the other side (when he plays with aggression and intensity). It doesn’t work the other way. Yet, it wasn’t like he was playing poorly when we took him out. He just needed to be better.”

Asham will play on the fourth line with Mike Rupp and Sergei Brylin, who will shift from right wing to center. Greene steps into Mottau’s spot alongside Colin White.

Comments

[Hoosier]

I think Pelley deserves to play, Rupp's game has dropped off a little bit the past few games. Not that Pelley has been a beast, but he at least brings a good effort every night and is defensively responsible.

Semi-random side note: Elias has looked good killing penalties this year.

I thought Mottau has been pretty shaky over the past few games. He seems a little worn down.

[Falcone]

If sitting Mottou will give him a breather for an extra day or two, good, I'm all about it. But I think in the overall scheme of things, Sutter's sitting the wrong Dman. Whitey needs to step up more than he has. Rachunik the same. D can't be happy. But maybe rotating a guy in and out on D over the next few games might give a much needed break to some.

Rod has played well this season, but needs to be more of an offensive threat. FOr a brief time the 4th line was producing. For whatever reason, they've gotten lazy. They need to get that fire back. I'd sit Sarge over the next few games. Let Pelly get back in there.

[Sarah]

Glad to see Greene getting a shot again. He's been sitting too long, maybe the fresh set of legs on D will give us something new tonight.

Last time Asham sat he came out strong afterwards, maybe we'll see some extra energy from him tonight.

[Koho88]

The problem is that we're even in a position to be talking about Mike Mottau in the first place... or Sheldon Brookbank or Johnny Oduya...

I'm looking forward to the trade deadline, hopefully to see TWO new top four defensemen.

[Mike in Idaho]

I agree Falcone, I think White won the Johnny Oduya award for shakiest D-man in the game against Buffalo. While I have frequently criticized Oduya, I will say he was one of the better defensemen in the game against Buffalo and hopefully will continue to improve, that was great how he was able to come back and break up that Buffalo breakaway.

[RJ Arditti]

i think we all need to give Colin White the benefit of a doubt, he did nearly lose an eye less than 6 months ago lets remember, and as a defenseman you need your perepheral(sp) vision to play at the top of your game.

I also agree with Koho88, i would like to see at least 1 new Dman come to the team at the deadline

[Maxwell]

I can see what Sutter is saying here. It makes complete sense, although I thought Mottau had a decent game vs the Sabres.

I'm going to the game tonight, and will be very excited to see if Greene can take advantage of this opportunity.

[Maxwell]

Oh, and btw - are we booing/clapping/silenting Nieds?

I say boo.

[Glen]

Isn't Asham's hand hurt? We should really sit him. I like the guy but he's not a pivotal enough player that he should be asked to be playing injured.

[Mike]

This team is too soft to win anything this year, there are too many guys afraid of contact, there scared of getting hit, We need more size and toughness and guys willing to mix it up.

[RJ Arditti]

also i think it does us all no good to keep asking TG who's on the radar, because Lou has never been one to talk about who he is interested in ever, so if we get someone we will probably have no idea we had an interest until the news conference to announce we got them

[RJ Arditti]

i say we cheer Nieds tonight... i will be there too and i for one will cheer, he's earned it with his 3 stanley cup victories in the red white and black

[Ray]

I agree with RJ. I will cheer loudly for Niedermayer. He was a huge part of the success of this franchise while he was here. And you can't begrudge him for leaving for the opportunity to play with his brother. He didn't leave for more $$ like some others we know. Are you not going to cheer him when they retire his number?

[Brodie30]

What?! No #27 in red and black? Maybe they don't want to motivate the guy whose number he was given. If I were able to go to the game I would not be able to cheer for Nieder. He even got a few scattered boos when the Devils played him in Anaheim.

[Mike]

Well it looks like the Devils won't be getting Wade Redden at the deadline, as he invoked his NTC to San Jose this morning. I thought we might be a good free agent pickup in the offseason to be our #1, but maybe not so much anymore.

[Mike]

Well it looks like the Devils won't be getting Wade Redden at the deadline, as he invoked his NTC to San Jose this morning. I thought we might be a good free agent pickup in the offseason to be our #1, but maybe not so much anymore.

[devils95]

I agree with RJ and Ray. We all should cheer him as if he never left. I have no grudge since he left to play with his brother for less money than Lou offered him. I will be cheering for him tonight from section 120.

Good to see Greene getting back into the lineup. Let's see if his game improved by sitting out 7 of the last 8 games.

[RJ Arditti]

mike where did you find that out?

[Pat]

Good to see Greene back in. He will be interchangeable w/Mottau as they both have similar stature and style, although I think Mottau is better on O and Greene on D, especially positionally.

Rumor in the Post is Lou is looking at Robert Lang. He's got 1 yr left at $4M and then UFA so he wouldn't be a rental. Maybe Mottau, Greene or Oduya for him? I'd still rather see Boyle or Redden. Blake is supposed to re-sign w/LA next year so forget that option.

[RJ Arditti]

Getting Boyle... for me at least, would be tantamount to the day that i discovered that my wang had another use besides peeing... seriously i would be that excited to get him... but i don;t think its gonna happen....maybe in the UFA market though?

[scottyc]

cheer Nieder, but if he scores we can give him some heat, haha ... he knows the deal, he played here long enough and do you think this is to shop asham & greene? and if not, then riddle me this why o why o why is asham going back in when fan favorite/team sparkplug cam the slam is just sitting around dying to play ... someone get adam west on the bat phone b/c im obviously missing something

[RJ Arditti]

Adam West is currently unavailible for comment as hes having an important meeting in Quahog about where water goes when its poured into the ground, and to commemorate his new solid gold statue of Dig'Em the frog from the sugar smacks cereal box(family guy reference to all who are not fans)

[Jeff]

Nieds deserves nothing but respect from us. It's not like he signed to go play for money he went to fullfil his dream of playing with his brother and winning a cup with him. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. Unlike Gomer who left for money.

[Chris]

While I won't be at the game I'll cheer for Neider from home. The guy was a spectacualar player who was pivitol to our stanley cup victories. He did leave, but it wasn't for monitary reasons ala Gomez and Holik (still can't believe that A-hole actually recommended the Rangers to Gomez). LL offered Neider a max contract and he turned it down to play with his Brother. I may have considered booing him for how long he waited to inform LL he wasn't resigning and not allowing us to get a better patch up on D than we did, but between the fact that indecision seems to just be a part of Neiders personality with his 1/2 season sabaticle and the fact that LL said HE still likes him enough to retire his jersey at some point I decided that I will cheer for him in his return to Jersey and so should everyone else.

[scottyc]

hahahaha