Hossa gives Weekes a tough night

Tonight's 3-1 loss in Detroit was definitely Kevin Weekes' weakest performance of the three games he has started since Martin Brodeur was injured.

Weekes allowed three goals on 31 shots, which isn't terrible against the defending Stanley Cup champions, but both goals he gave up to Marian Hossa weren't great.

The first one came only 3:30 into the game and was not the start to the game the Devils needed. Hossa surprised Weekes with a shot from the bottom of the left circle that found an opening on the short side.

"I was more kind of in between him passing from where he was," Weekes said. "I didn't think he was going to shoot from there, especially with him being a left-handed shot. So, I was kind of playing the pass. I was in between. It's my fault."

Hossa's second goal, which came on the 2-on-1 that resulted from Salvador's injury, was probably stopable too. As Tomas Holmstrom drove to the net, Weekes opened his legs a little and Hossa found the opening with his shot along the ice from the left circle. That turned out to be the game-winner.

Weekes could not be blamed for the Red Wings' third goal, which was scored by Kirk Maltby 4:11 into the third period. Devils defenseman Johnny Oduya said Andreas Lilja's left point shot hit him in the right arm and dropped between his feet in the left circle. Maltby got to it first and beat Weekes between the pads.

"I thought he was steady after the first goal," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "I'm sure he would like to have it back, but other than that I thought he played very solid."

If Sutter really had not made up his mind yet about whether to play Weekes or Scott Clemmensen Sunday night against Edmonton, he has to consider Weekes' workload. Before Monday's loss to Buffalo, Weekes had started five games in 22 months. If he starts Sunday, that will be four starts in a week.

Sutter mentioned that Weekes didn't have a heavy workload tonight. I'm guessing he wants to give Weekes a chance to bounce back and maybe get on some kind of roll. He also might not want to hurt his feelings by giving Clemmensen a start so soon.

I think he shouldn't wait too long before working Clemmensen in. He has not played in a week already. Weekes will definitely play Wednesday against the Rangers, so if he plays Sunday, Clemmensen will have  a two week break between starts (assuming he plays one of the games against the Capitals next Friday and Saturday).

***

The Devils' best chance to win tonight probably disappeared when Chris Osgood reached back to make that stick save on Patrik Elias during the New Jersey power play with 3:02 left in the second period. If Elias gets that puck a little higher, it's a 2-2 game going to the third. They still might have lost, but that missed opportunity was a big one.

"The puck's got to be in the net," Sutter said.

Elias agreed.

"I've got to bury it," he said. "We had them all over the place for two minutes almost and he just reacted. I shot it and he reacted. It hit the top of his stick. If I bury it, it might be a different game. It would have tied it up at 2-2 and who knows what happens?"

***

Sutter said he juggled his defensemen early in the game because he wanted to limit Anssi Salmela's ice time other than when he used him on the power-play point. Salmela ended up playing 14:40 for the night. His ice time was padded because Bryce Salvador did not play in the third because of his left foot.

***

I wouldn't be surprised if the Devils held Brian Gionta out of the rest of the game because he hit his head on the boards, but he looked and sounded fine after the game. I think he has a decent shot of playing Sunday.

Salvador sounded like he was trying too hard to convince everyone his foot was all right. I guess we'll have to see what happens Sunday.

Comments

[BH]

I don't think the Devils have ever been this injury prone. If Gionta and Salvador can't play, who would they bring up? Pelley and ???

[BF]

Well, I joked about it the other day but maybe I should get my skates sharpened!

[TeGraxe]

Thanks TG:
But let's all realize that Travis Zajac is a bust. How long can we wait for him to mak an asisst; and then for us to take a deep breath and say he is coming along. He stinks now he will stink in 3 months. This guy is Pavel Brendl incarnate.

[kstatik]

Maybe we should ALL get our skates sharpened...

...

I wish I was joking!

[TeGraxe]

You mean to tell me that Travis Zajaic has bee nothing more than a joke to defenders in the NHL? I am sorry his numbers play it out..

[aarrgghhhh]

Zajac is playing pretty well and much better than last season. He just has no finish.

[ZuljinRaynor]

So the "Zajac is a bust" bus is back in town? Sorry, I'm not hopping on it.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

Zajac is most definitely not a bust. he is playing great this year. He did not have a great night to night, and he only assisted on the only goal we had........... its a ridiculous statement because anyone who watches every night knows that our record would be alot worse and Zach wouldn't have as many goals as he does without Zajac

[kstatik]

I'm alright with Zajac... he hasn't been our problem this season!

I'm more concerned with our shortened bench and finding a way to injury-proof Parise.

I think that a combination of bubble-wrap & full body armor like previously suggested might work.
I refuse to give up on them though; the players on the ice played with heart, but the Wings speed
got them early as well as a couple of bad goals. Weekes is still sharpening up mentally.

I would keep him in. Let him know we're confident in his abilities! Build on his confidence.

[TeGraxe]

I just want to know when his bust out will be.... When will Travis Zajic post more than an effort in a game? This guy is the most invisible Devil on the ice game to game ...

[Jim B]

When you lose most of your starting lineup and your number one goaltender you can only expect so much from this team. With the lineup they have today i would be happy if they go .500, when rolston, holik, and martin come back they should be better but no brodeur is a huge loss to this team.

[TeGraxe]

All those that don't think that Travis Zajac issn't a bust please look at the numbers.... He Stinks... He had a good two weeks in his first year. Scince then you have been an amabarassment.

[AreJay]

Zajac is a legit NHL player, but he'll never be a top flight center because he isn't, and likely never will be, a goal-scorer. He isn't much of a creative set-up man, either. He's just okay at it.

In fact, he's probably a third line defensive center at best. I think he could eventually become John Madden's replacement after his career is done, handling the other clubs' top lines.

[TeGraxe]

You are saying that this guy could be a replcement for Madden? Seeing he has done nothing in his whole Devil tenure?

[FOTC]

MORE BERGFORS PLEASE.

[TeGraxe]

Travis Zajac is an emabarssement to topp line forwards in the the NYC area...

[paulytits]

i think our captains play as of late is more worthy of a ranting than travis zajac's. jamie langenbrunner SUCKS.

[Shu]

Zajac isn't a bust, but he isn't a top 6 forward either. He's a checking line player, which is all the more reason not to bring back a 36 year old John Madden next season.

Unfortunately, Lou is still living in a bygone era so he'll most likely re-sign Madden for way too much money. Lou just can't seem to figure out that the league has changed, there aren't two 1st ballot Hall of Fame defenseman on the blueline anymore and the team isn't going to win playing the style they played 10 years ago.

He also doesn't grasp the very basic concept that you don't give big raises to 30+ players that were barely average to begin with and have already begun their decline, e.g. Pandolfo, Langenbrunner. That's free agency 101 in any sport. Free agents are overpaid by nature...if you're going to pay top dollar, you may as well shop at Tiffany's, not Wal-Mart.

Unless the bottom falls out and Vanderbeek realizes Lou can't get it done anymore, it's going to be the same ol' same ol' for the foreseeable future...squeek into the playoffs, get bounced in the first round.

[njdave]

Zajac like Gionta should be TRADED!!! come on Lou grow some balls and unload this dead weight and pick up someone useful, and anyone who says Parise wouldn't have as many goals without Zajac is just plain stupid...come on, put Parise on any solid line on any NHL team and he is good for 60 points at least!

[95-00-03]

I think we had a good chance to walk away with at least a point if we didn't have Gionta and Salvador go down. Overall the team really played well in my opinion and I am not about to say trade Zajak or fire the coach because we lost last night. Osgood was just a little better and Detroit had all their starters healthy.

If we ever get this team healthy again we could be in good shape for the playoffs. I just hope we can get 2 points out of tonights game and kick some Ragger A$$ on Wednesday.

GO DEVILS!

[TG]

I'm not sure I understand the Zajac discussion today. I thought he was one of the Devils' better players last night.

[brule2000]

That free agency logic is the sort that built all those wonderful Rangers teams around the turn of the century.

Zajac leads the team in assists.

Its embarrassing to read some of these barely literate kneejerk responses.

Spoiled kids always whine when they don't get their way. It was so much more pleasant following inferior Devils teams 20 years ago because fans had reasonable expectations.

[TG]

Vasyunov scored twice last night, but Lowell lost 5-4 in OT. Patrick Davis also scored twice.

[BH]

I guess its Zajac's turn to get ridiculed. The way this board gets on players for seemingly no reason, I'm sure Parise will be soon.

[Craigwell]

Yes I agree completely with brule2000 and BH.

It's tough not to get sour when the team doesn't do as well as we'd all like, but it's really a little selfish. Have some faith.

I thought the team did really well last night, considering the 8 players the team was down by the end. Lay off ZZPop, they're the only consistent offense generating line we have INTACT at this point.

Get used to it folks, the team is going to have a bit of rough road heading into Christmas. Even when the forwards are all healthy again; they have to work again at developing chemistry.

Fickle: marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability : given to erratic changeableness. (courtesy of www.m-w.com)

This epitomizes many Devils fans, spoiled by three cup victories.