Weekes to start in net tonight against Islanders

Devils coach Brent Sutter said this morning Kevin Weekes will start in net tonight against the Islanders.

Sutter decided to go with Weekes over Scott Clemmensen, who started the team's three previous games and played well in Thursday's 3-1 win over Florida.

Sutter had said previously that each of his two goaltenders would play during this stretch of three games in four days -- the Devils visit Tampa Bay on Sunday, but claimed his final decision wasn't made until after Thursday's game.

"The decision was made last night," Sutter said. "It was nothing that was totally pre-planned. It was something that you think about and you weigh out all of your options and you look at your schedule and felt that after last night's game that it was the right thing to do."

The Devils have won two in a row and are looking to match their longest winning streak of the season with a victory tonight. Joey MacDonald will start in net for the Islanders, who have won three in a row.

The decision to start Weekes was a little bit of a surprise. It would have been easy for Sutter to go back to Clemmensen after the team won the last two games with him in net. He admitted the schedule played into his decision to go back to Weekes, who has not played since being pulled after giving up four goals in the second period of a 5-2 loss to the Rangers nine days ago.

"(Clemmensen) did have some big saves at key times last night," Sutter said. "But it was just looking at today and then we travel at tomorrow and we play (Sunday) so it was, after last night, get Weeksie right in the game here tonight and then make a decision for (Sunday) when (Sunday) comes."

Weekes started four of the first five games after Martin Brodeur was injured, but has had to wait to get another chance after being pulled against the Rangers.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "Obviously, it's nice when you get to play. I'll just try to enjoy it and play my best and I'll approach it the same way I always do when I get to play."

Clemmensen has played well in the four starts he's made since being called up from Lowell. He allowed more than two goals in only one of them and that was a 6-5 shootout win over the Capitals last Saturday.

Weekes said he doesn't view this as a competition against Clemmensen or feel pressure to surpass what he has done.

"I don't really view it as anything other than when he's playing I'm supporting him and the guys and when I'm playing I know he's the same way," Weekes said. "Like I said, I just take it day by day. It's really not too much to overthink. It's tough enough mentally trying to stop pucks. That's a tough enough job."

Comments

[Puckster]

That makes sense with three games in four nights.

[Kat]

Weekes in goal makes me nervous. It seems like Clemmer is just finding his rythm, why change it now?

[curt]

First time to the the Rock tonight. Any suugestions as far as close parking and how early to arrive? Thanks in advance.

[modnarm]

take NJ Transit and save yurself parking $$ and a headache or two.

[Sarah]

ditto on the NJ Transit advice. Way easier.

[DL]

Good call for Weekes. These two are going to have to do it together, so why not after back to backs. A win tonight will go a long way. Hope he gets it, Kevin is a class act all around!

[curt]

I am actually coming from Putnam County NY so driving is my only option at this point.

[Amerz]

I actually don't like the NJ transit. I like having the comfort of my own car and being on my own schedule. All the parking lots are pretty good. All about a block away.

[curt]

Thanks for the feedback. Hope there is going to be a good showing tonight. From what I heard the Rock is Phenominal.

[Ben]

If your coming from Westchester/Putnam you should leave an hour earlier than you would normally do any day. I drive from Westchester and leave 5:30 any other day of the week...but traffic can get so bad I leave 4 on friday...hope that helps

[Just Some Guy]

If you are driving to/from Newark on a Friday evening, you are no longer on your own schedule. Traffic gets pretty gnarly at times. But you'll have a great time at the arena. And there are several parking lots adjacent to the arena.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

i advocate EATING before you get down there. The food is overpriced and just OK. Also if your interested in seeing some of the shootarounds i would leave from Putnam county(i went to school in dutchess county Marist College) i would say leave at the lastest, if you can, by 4 or 4:30 because traffic in the lovely garden state is ALWAYS a variable especially on a friday.

[Amerz]

I live in Edison and traffic really has never been a problem for me. It has never taken me more than a half hour to get to the arena. So i don't know, that works for me.

[vinnyc]

coming from putnam...take the thruway to i287 to i80 to i280. Zero traffic every time. I come from dutchess county and used to take the garden state...never again. From Poughkeepsie it's an hour and 15 mins taking 287. Trust me.

Hopefully maddog will lace em up tonight. As far as parking ... I pay the ridiculous 32 dollars to park in the garage but it's so convienient it makes it worth it.

[curt]

Thanks for all the feedback. It is greatly appreciated

[njdave]

Going to my first game of the season tonight and I'm hoping for weekes to come up big with a nice win...I like the guy alot as a person and I'm rooting for him as much as anyone but i honestly can't say I like his goaltending style, he is afraid to leave the crease and shys away from handling a puck thats even two feet to the side of the net, this has to be a difficult adjustment for our d men and it prolongs the breakout for our offense. Clemmer in my opinion is a better goalie, he handles the puck well and seems to make some great saves that predictable butterfly goalies like weekes often let by. Weekes plays the whole game on the ground, just watch tonight! Time will tell who the better goalie is...