Devils coach Brent Sutter said he would stick with the same lineup tonight against the Kings as he used in Friday's loss to the Rangers. Defensemen Sheldon Brookbank and Andy Greene will again be healthy scratches. Cam Janssen (right shoulder surgery, but ready to play) and Jay Pandolfo (pubic bone ligament) remain on injured reserve.
"We thought we'd go with the same lineup and ride it a little bit," Sutter said.
There was some speculation that Pandolfo might play tonight when he didn't skate this morning, but Sutter said he told Pandolfo to take the day off for a "mental and physical" break after skating hard for three consecutive days.
The Kings will be without defenseman Rob Blake tonight. He returned to Los Angeles because of a stress fracture in his ankle/foot and is expected to miss two weeks.
Greene, Brookbank, Janssen, Arron Asham, Rod Pelley and Kevin Weekes were the only Devils to skate this morning.
I wish Janssen could play instead of Asham who has been a waste the last couple of months. TG, you mentioned the other day that it may be awhile since Janssen comes back, due to activating him from the IR would require them to clear space on the roster. Is that due to the salary cap or how many guys they want to carry on the active roster? Sorry if I am missing something obvious here, I'm just a bit confused.
Posted by: Brian | February 02, 2008 at 01:19 PM
No Rob Blake is a good thing.
Posted by: Pat D'Amico | February 02, 2008 at 01:31 PM
Teams are allowed a maximum of 23 players on the roster during the regular season. Right now, the Devils have 22 with Pandolfo and Janssen both on IR.
Posted by: TG | February 02, 2008 at 01:37 PM
playing with fewer players is dev's way of saving cap money, problem is they dont use it, so it's a cheapness thing i think. very frustrating.
listening to xm 204, i have grown so tired of being called the boring devils. but guess what...they are spot on!!!
lou must not only shake this team up, but he must add some sizzle, lest people stop making the trek to wild and wonderful newark.
Posted by: SonicDude | February 02, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Sonic wtf? how is that a cheapness thing? ur an idiot... look at the TG's post right above urs, they arent cheap they are at a limit and dont want to lose anyone on waivers.
Posted by: Tom | February 02, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Tom - What are you 10 years old? Idiot - what's with that crap? You are completely blind if you don't think the Devils are cheap. There is no one of consequence to lose on waivers. Why don't you go back to watching Spongebob or something.
Posted by: SonicDude | February 02, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Tom your a retard, do u even know hockey? The devils are awful and you think your Mr. Hockey. You might as well watch a team thts worth watching other then the boring devils. I dont know how u dont fall asleep when you watch them play. Tom your a meathead, yu don't know jack.
Posted by: Lucas Ferguson | February 02, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Sonic-
You need to drive through about the "boring" comment. There's nothing boring about this year's team except their occasional lethargy. When they're on their game it's highly entertaining hockey.
Saving against the cap is definitely one of LL's strategies. Cap hits are counted on a pro-rata basis by games played. Every game that can be played with fewer players is more cash in the kitty come trade deadline.
Posted by: Gunther | February 02, 2008 at 03:11 PM
"your a retard" and sockpuppets. that's nice
Posted by: aarrghhh | February 02, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Can we refrain from namecalling? It IS possible to disagree without calling each other meatheads and idiots. C'mon now.
As for the boring stuff...did anyone actually WATCH the game last night? The first two periods were two of the more exciting periods either team has played this year.
Posted by: Josh | February 02, 2008 at 03:57 PM
sutter ... your getting on my nerves again
Posted by: scotty c | February 02, 2008 at 04:08 PM
By the way, it's a stress fracture of the left ankle for Blake. He apparently played six games with it before it became too much and he went home to L.A.
Posted by: TG | February 02, 2008 at 04:21 PM
I hope when Pandolfo does come back it will be the spark we need for this team. With him in the lineup was when we started our winning streak even if he had gotten injured halfway through it.
Posted by: MoonDragn | February 02, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Looks like Scott Thornton is also out tonight for LA with a stiff neck.
Posted by: TG | February 02, 2008 at 05:18 PM
I don't think anyone should comment with their 'expertise' on the Devils situation when they are calling #27 Mike Motley in the previous blog and comment section. I can't take your opinion seriously.
And also I don't understand why a fan of another team would want to waste their time talking trash about the Devils being boring on this blog. From yesterdays appearance to today, a probable ranger fan. And if so, it was a wonderful boring trap that worked well in those last 8 minutes or so, minus the late parise chance.
Posted by: Air Silks | February 02, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Hey Tom, they mentioned you in an article on NHL.com
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=351998
Posted by: Pat D | February 02, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Ranger and Islander fans trying to call the Devs boring.....That's rich
Learn the game....When you have two forecheckers in the zone, then you are not trapping. It's funny though. None of them could tell you the difference between the trap and the left wing lock.
Who would've though Gomez would bring the trap to nyc? haha
Posted by: Garrett | February 02, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Sutter finally played Parise with Elias and Gionta, at least in the 1st period. It's about time...
I'm wondering if the Blake injury would prevent him from being dealt at the deadline. The kind of injury he has could linger for the rest of the season. He would look good in a Devils sweater though.
Posted by: Mike | February 02, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Blake doesn't deserve to be in a Devils jersey. Don't think such rubbish.
Posted by: Adam | February 02, 2008 at 08:00 PM