With defenseman Mike Mottau ready to return from his two-game suspension, defenseman Jay Leach was sent back down to Lowell of the AHL today.
Leach earned his first NHL point with an assist in Sunday's 7-3 victory in Tampa Bay.
Mottau was suspended for his high hit on the Islanders Frans Nielsen a week ago.
***
John Madden did not practice today after missing the last three games with a bruised left ankle and will not accompany the team to Pittsburgh for Saturday's game.
The Devils are off after Saturday's game until they play on Thursday in Philadelphia, so skipping the Penguins' game would give Madden five more days to heal.
Too bad about Madden, but we have looked pretty good without him so far, but the question is how long can we sustain it, because he is definitely a vital part of our team
Posted by: Pearl Jammed | November 28, 2008 at 02:59 PM
TG have Holik, Greene and Rolston been practicing with the team also?
Posted by: Robbie | November 28, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Do you think Madden will be back for that game in Philly TG?
Posted by: Sarah | November 28, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Something was wrong with Madden's play even before the injury. I hope whatever it was he's gotten it out of his system before he comes back.
Posted by: MoonDragn | November 28, 2008 at 03:07 PM
"Lowell earned his first NHL point with an assist in Sunday's 7-3 victory in Tampa Bay." TG don't you mean Leach earned his first career NHL point?
Posted by: Robbie | November 28, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Leave TG alone he probably has a tyrkey hangover
Posted by: Jeff | November 28, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Madden seems to have lost a step but that doesn't explain why Rupp (who is a much slower player) is filling in for him so well. We'll see what happens vs. that high powered Pens offense. The way to win these days seems to be to have 3 balanced 2-way lines that are aggressive on the forecheck with a line of bangers who are responsible defensively that can chip in offensively here and there. It'll be interesting to see what Sutter does with these lines since Zubrus has looked so good playing with Gio & Patty.
Posted by: JJ | November 28, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Well Put JJ
Posted by: Pearl Jammed | November 28, 2008 at 03:33 PM
I agree all the way with JJ on this one. that is the path to success in the NHL right now
Posted by: Pearl Jammed | November 28, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Hopefully Madden can play better when he gets back from the injury. He's really been struggling this year in a way. Oh yea TG, whats the latest on Rolston, Holik, and Greene.
Posted by: Steve | November 28, 2008 at 04:02 PM
tg any word on whose in net tomorrow? did clemmer or weekes leave the ice first?
Posted by: brian | November 28, 2008 at 04:18 PM
has anybody followed the bruins this year? i'm just wondering what's going on there that has them on top of the east.
they didn't have any major change in their roster, and they were an average team last year. these types of runs happen in hockey, but they have been an unexpected surprise this year.
Posted by: rico | November 28, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Hey TG, can you find out if Rupp ever ended up working at a soup kitchen?
Posted by: Pat D'Amico | November 28, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Yeah, Rico, the Bruins have been impressive. What they've done is draft well. Kessel and Lucic have been big contributors and Tim Thomas has played great. Oh, and their coach is pretty good, too.
Posted by: Halo Moe | November 28, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Don't forget, everybody, that Elias, Gionta and Zubrus have been getting more ice time and going up against the other teams's top lines because of Madden's absence. Suddenly, the Devils have realized that every time Lecavlier's on the ice we don't necessarily need our shut down line out there. This can might be part of the reason for the ZEG line offensive output.
Posted by: NeptuneTim | November 28, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Regarding Boston, remember they lost Patrice Bergeron to concussion last year. They've also brought in Michael Ryder and signed Blake Wheeler. But the most major change is the development of their young players, as Halo Moe has pointed out. Along with Kessel and Lucic, David Krejci and Denis Wideman are playing well. And with all this going on, they still have Marc Savard and Zdeno Chara. When you think about it, their team is pretty stacked.
Posted by: Frankie D | November 28, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Yeah Neptune Tim, I was saying the same thing the other day. Madden's injury has given more playing time to our top 2 lines, which not only contributes to our offense, but also keeps guys like LeCavalier defending in their own zone, because Zubs and Gionta are cycling it so well down low.
Posted by: Frankie D | November 28, 2008 at 06:05 PM
I really hope Sutter stops with the line matching. Your best lines should be out on the ice more then your other lines, that is not to mean we shouldn't roll 4 lines though. The first and second lines should just get the majority of the minutes compared to the other two lines if we want to compete. Without Marty we need to keep scoring (and hopefully continue scoring when he comes back, sounds like a good combination to me). Plus Elias is one of our most defensively responsible people out there. I trust him and Martin on the ice the most in the last minute.
Posted by: Nick | November 28, 2008 at 06:20 PM
I was not at practice, but Clemmensen came off first today.
Sorry about the typo about Leach earlier.
Posted by: Tom Gulitti | November 28, 2008 at 06:28 PM
I was in Boston today with family for the T-Day weekend and went to the Bruins game(I need to get a life). The Boston Bruins are every bit as advertised. Dynamic,young, quick and are a tremendous cohesive team. The Islanders looked 'lost' after the first period and the 2 Islanders goalies make Clem and Weeksie look like stalwarts.
The Bruins talent and corresponding toughness is what impressed me the most. They are one team that finally was equal to the task of being called 'Bruins'. They're are an incredibly hungry and a representative talented bunch of unknowns.
Kessel is phenomenally quick and Lucic(20 years old) is uber talented and seems 'Cam Neelyesque'.
The biggest test of the Bruins this season comes tomorrow night against the Red Wings.
The building was really 'rocking' something I've not seen at The 'Rock' ever unless the 'AH Rags' are in Town.
Enough of that...
GO Devils!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Prokat | November 28, 2008 at 07:45 PM
I think the Devils should call-up PL3. I do not like Tallackson playing
Posted by: Jack | November 28, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Really, Jack, in the few minutes Tallackson has been given a game, you have seen enough to form a negative opinion? Give me a break, Parise couldn't show his skills in the same amount of ice time.
Posted by: JP | November 28, 2008 at 10:41 PM
happy thxgvg weekend to all.
very impressed with the way every player has lifted his game in this 5 game streak.
back by popular demand...now is a great time to trade gionta with a prospect, bring in a top 4 defenseman. sorry folks, gio and elias have played like 20 goal scorers for way too long for me to be convinced they are anything more than that despite their recent play.
i officially take back half the things that i have said about oduya. and that is no easy conceit for me.
Posted by: SonicDude | November 29, 2008 at 08:40 AM
by the way, nice post prokat. boston looks terrific. 4 top 4 d-men, skill scoring, power scoring. very impressive team.
yet, does it really matter?...any watch a red wings or sharks game lately? the wings are an all-star team, and the sharks are close to one.
Posted by: SonicDude | November 29, 2008 at 08:45 AM
TG-
What's the deal with Rolston, Greene and Holik? Are they ready to come back?
Posted by: Falcone | November 29, 2008 at 08:52 AM