Davis excited to get a chance

On Saturday night, Patrick Davis scored two goals for Lowell in a 5-4 loss in Bridgeport. As he was getting on the bus, head coach Kurt Kleinendorst told him he was getting called up because of another injury in New Jersey. This one is to right wing Brian Gionta, who is sore after taking a hard hit in Saturday's loss in Detroit.

For Davis, the Devils' fourth-round draft pick in 2005, it's the opportunity of his young career.

It's really exciting," the 21-year-old Sterling, Mich. native said. "I've been waiting for this for a while now and the opportunity is here now and I'm just hoping I can make the best of it and help these guys win."

Davis and defensemen Jay Leach are the most recent players to be called up from Lowell as the injuries have piled up in New Jersey. The Devils will have at least seven players out tonight due to injury. Defenseman Bryce Salvador (left foot) is likely to play, but if he can't that number will be eight.

"Every time you see a guy getting hurt, that's one of our guys going up (from Lowell)," Leach said. "The first two weeks our team was completely different from what we have now. That's just the way it goes. Sometimes you get injuries and guys have to step up when they have opportunties and that's what's happening right now."

Leach has played in four previous NHL games -- two each with Tampa Bay and Boston. 

Comments

[Shari]

I wonder if Pascal R will be up at some point, i kind of liked that guy. TG, where is Rass? is he no longer with the Dev's? just wondering.

[JerseyLove]

Omg, that's just sad if the Devils have to settle with Pascal Rheaume.

[Shari]

He may not be the best player out there but at least you know what your going to get with him, it's nice to see some kids get a chance but there is alot of unknown there, and they need all of the points that they can get.

[Matt McNaught]

Shari - it appears Rasmussen signed a deal with a team in Finland - his name appears on the team web site - maybe someone can translate

http://www.assat.com/fi/assat/etusivu.html

[Shari]

Thanks.

[mikeP]

TG, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Pascal Rheaume is signed to an NHL two-way contract. I could have sworn that he just signed an AHL contract with Lowell. Therefore he'd have to sign an NHL contract first before he could be recalled. Is the team already at the 50 player NHL contract limit?