Leblond has cracked orbital bone; Rolston, Langenbrunner, Holik updates

Left wing Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond missed today's practice with what Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said was "a crack" in the orbital bone near a nasal passage.

"He had some discomfort in his nasal area, so we sent him to the doctor and he's got an orbital little crack where it does not require surgery," Lamoriello said. "He can play. There's no problem whatsover with it, but we're going to hold him out to make sure he feels 100 percent. But he has the green light to play from the doctors."

Lamoriello said the crack was "not from a fight."

"He thinks it was from the hit when was checked into the boards (by Philadelphia's Riley Cote on Saturday, but it was not from a fight," Lamoirello said. "In fact, we're not even sure if it's something that's been there (previously). That's why we're going to have them check again."

Lamoriello said the crack is not displaced and will not require surgery.

"There's no sugery," Lamoriello said. "We've had worse than this."

***

Right wing Jamie Langenbrunner did not skate today and will not play on Wednesday night's game against Toronto because of his lower body bruise, but Lamoriello said he worked out off the ice again today and will probably skate Wednesday morning.

"Langenbrnner is feeling very good," he said. "In all probability he will go out for a skate tomorrow morning. We'll see how he feels. He's very close."

Langenbrunner has not skated since he was injured in Friday's 6-3 loss to Philadelphia.

***

Brian Rolston's recovery from a high right ankle sprain has been progressing, but there is still not timetable for how much time he is expected to miss. Rolston has not played since being injured on Oct. 16 in Atlanta.

"He's progressing very well," Lamoriello said. "We'll just have to keep going day by day, but he's progressing and getting better and better. And I don't want to put a timetable on it because I really don't have one."

Lamoriello said Rolston has been exercising off the ice and doing, "everything except skating."

Rolston had another X-ray a few days ago to make sure there was no fracture that had been revealed after he started working out. He would not say how long it would before Rolston starts skating and ready to play in a game.

"I could be soon. It could be longer," he said. "He's going to be 100 percent. But he's closer than we would have anticipated at the time (he was injured)."

***

Center Bobby Holik, who is recovering from a fractured right pinky and has surgery a week ago, is scheduled to have his stitches removed Wednesday and is still on target to miss three to four weeks. He's been out since bein injured on Oct. 18 in Washington.

***

Lamoriello said right wing Barry Tallackson, who was placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve and assigned to Lowell for conditioning, practice in Lowell this morning, but won't necessarily play in that team's next game Wednesday night at Manchester.

"We'll see," Lamoriello said. "With these call-ups (of Nicklas Bergfors and Matt Halischuk), he might forced into action."

Comments

[Devilswede]

Man is this team banged up now or what! A complete post by TG on injuries to several important players. Thanks for the update TG. But I still don't think we'll see Rolston before December.

[JoeDevs]

The dirty goon Cote should have received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. The Flyers are a dirty team.

[Kelly]

Throw a cage on and let him play.

[Mike redante]

1. Gionta- Putting Gio with Madden and Pando is a complete waste of a offensive
minded, goal scoring forward, your not utilizing Gio offensive production. Yes
Maddens can score occasionally but he is not a goal scorer ( he has no hands, no
creativety), Pando's a Penalty killer PERIOD. Put Gio with Zajac and Parise and they
will light it up (new NHL SPEEED kills) Langdenbunner is a hrad worker but should be
put with Madden and Pando as a Defensive shut down line. (they will still put up
points tho with madden and langdenbrunner having some offensive).

2. CLARKSON is not a goalscorer nor will he ever be. STOP PUTTING HIM ON THE
POWERPLAY.

3. At the Flyers game Friday we were down a goal or 2 with 6 minutes
left……REGARDLESS we were down… madden pando and gio were out playing a freaking
1-2-2 passive forecheck..are you serious…you obviously have to be aggressive in that
situation with 6 min left and down a goal.

4. POWERPLAY…when Rolston comes back you can not just have a powerplay where guys
are standing around just passing the puck with Rolstons cannon. You need to get a
lot of movement and quick passing to open up a lane for rolstons blast (just watch
the Wilds powerplay last yr) Put him on wing for a one timer if the point shots not
open.

5. Lines- When everyones healthy-- Parise Zajac Gio/ Rolston, Zubrus, Elias
(solves the winger situation as well Rolston and Elias both would ratehr be
wingers), Langdenbrunner, Madden, Pando/ Rupp, Holik, Clarkson

Vrana- fast, creates plays, very smart, little weak in corners, if hes put with
talented scorers hell put up points, I just don’t know where theres room whens
everyones healthy)
Salema- Very creative, fasssst, nice slap shot, bring him back up he should play
point on powerplay with rolston or point on second unit
Greenes playing well , Muatu isnt playing well at all.

[Falcone]

He's ok to play but kinda useless unless he fights

[Al]

Ask yourself even if healthy, PL3 or Bergofrs, or Halischuck in teh line up. What do we have a hard time doing? Umm, scoring goals? Let Rupp and Clarkson (Sheldon when dressed)take care of the goons. WE should want to see more pucks in the net and Bergfors, Vrana and Matty do that for us.

WE NEED GOALS, not fights.

[Acov]

Elias sighting. Yeah baby

[generic propecia]

There is always power-walking, or race-walking, outside or on an
indoor track! This is a little bit different from the treadmill since
you can actually go somewhere, trek up some steep streets in the
neighborhood, do it on your lunch break if you work, etc