Live blog: No Madden tonight; Devils up 5-2 in the third

Paul Martin's 5-on-3 power-play goal at 12:32 of the third period increased the Devils lead to 5-2 over the Islanders.

On Martin's goal, Islanders defensemen Andy Sutton and Brendan Witt both were without sticks. It looked like Sutton just lost his. Witt's stick broke.

Richard Park was the only Islander defender with a stick.

The attendance is 17,138. Good crowd tonight.

Brian Gionta's shorthanded goal with 15.4 seconds left in the second period put the Devils up, 4-2.

Gionta scored on his second whack at the rebound of a Zach Parise shot. The goal came during a delayed penalty on the Islanders., It was Gionta's third goal in as many games and fifth of the season.

That looked like a bad play by Mike Mottau there on his hit on Frans Neilsen. Mottau came across and appeared to leave his feet in hitting Neilson under the chin with his right forearm. Neilson appeared to injure his right knee on the play and had to be helped off.

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Impressive fight by Bryce Salvador with Tim Jackman with 6.7 seconds left in the second period. Salvador bloodied Jackman's face with some good right hands. Jackman needed stitches under his right eye.

The Islanders' Sean Bergenheim backhanded in the rebound of an Andy Sutton shot that went off the right post at 13:04 of the second period to cut the Devils' lead to 3-2.

Salvador scored his first goal as a Devil at 3:52 of the increased New Jersey's lead to 3-1.

Salvador's shot from the left point went in off the left skate of Islanders defenseman Chris Campoli in front. Salvador's last goal came on Oct. 17, 2007 in Chicago when he was playing with St. Louis.

The goal came only 23 seconds after Andy Hilbert cut the Devils lead to 2-1 with a shot over Kevin Weekes catching glove from outside the left circle.

Weekes appeared to injure his right hand (blocker) when the Islanders Frans Nielson ran into him 2:05 into the period, but was able to shake it off and stay in the game.

Martin Brodeur is here again tonight.

How about Colin White taking a  swing at his good friend Jon Sim with 7:17 left in the second?

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The Devils begin a five-game road trip on Sunday in Tampa Bay. Their next home game is Dec. 10 against Pittsburgh. The upcoming 18-day stretch between home games will be the longest within one season in Devils history (excluding Olympic breaks), though the Devils did not play any home games for the first 23 days of their 2007-08 season (Oct. 4-26).

The previous high was 17 days, last in 1999 (March 6-22).

David Clarkson and Travis Zajac scored 10 seconds apart on deflections late in the first period to give the Devils a 2-0 lead.

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Clarkson deflected in Johnny Oduya's right point shot for a power-play goal at 18:41. Then, Zajac deflected Jamie Langenbrunner's right circle shot down and past goaltender Joey MacDonald's right pad at 18:51.

The team record for the shortest time between two goals is eight seconds. Patrik Elias and John Madden scored eight seconds apart in the first period of a 5-2 win over Boston on April 6, 2001. 

Kevin Weekes doesn't look very steady so far, but made five saves during the Islanders' two power plays so far. Whenever the Devils get through a power play without giving up a goal these days, that's a good sign. They've given up at least one power-play goal in five consecutive games.

It looked like Islanders defensman Bruno Gervais saved a goal on Patrik Elias' shot when Joey MacDonald was caught out of the net trying to beat Brian Gionta to the puck with 3:30 left in the first period.

The Devils are missing center tonight John Madden because of a left foot injury. 

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The starting lineups for tonight's game between the Devils and the Islanders at Prudential Center.

John Madden is out for the Devils with a left foot injury.

DEVILS

Forwards: Jay Pandolfo-Mike Rupp-David Clarkson. Defensemen: Colin White-Johnny Oduya. Goaltender: Kevin Weekes.

ISLANDERS

Forwards: Andy Hilbert-Richard Park-Tim Jackman. Defensemen: Mark Streit-Andy Sutton. Goaltender: Joey MacDonald.

***

Devils center John Madden is not participating in pre-game warm-ups and won't play tonight against the Islanders because of a left foot injury.

Madden was hit in the left foot with a shot by Florida's Nick Boynton in the second period of Thursday's 3-1 win over the Panthers.

Rookie center Petr Vrana is on the ice for warm-ups and it appears he will play tonight after being a healthy scratch the last two games.

Right wing Barry Tallackson also will play tonight. It will be his first NHL game since having Sept. 26 surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat.

Vrana will center Tallackson and Sheldon Brookbank on the fourth line. Mike Rupp moves up to play in Madden's spot between Jay Pandolfo and David Clarkson. The other two lines remain the same.

With Madden out, Colin White is wearing the second alternate captain's A.

The Devils' lineup for tonight's game.

Forwards: Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner; Patrik Elias-Dainius Zubrus-Brian Gionta; Jay Pandolfo-Mike Rupp-David Clarkson; Barry Tallackson-Petr Vrana-Sheldon Brookbank.

Defensemen: Bryce Salvador-Paul Martin; Colin White-Johnny Oduya; Anssi Salmela-Mike Mottau.

Goaltender: Kevin Weekes.

Comments

[njteech]

UGH!!!! Slowly I turn...step by step.....

[Jeff]

They just said Bergfors was sent back down to Lowell so looks like Tallackson and Vran will play

[Eric]

You can essentially pencil in the fourth line for about 4 minutes of playing time tonight.

[Pat D'Amico]

Good thing Islanders top line isn't necessarily a threat, I guess Zajac will be paired up against Weight?

[Steve]

This one has 2-1 written all over it. The $50,00 question is who getes the 2 qnd who gets the 1.

[Steve]

Pinch Me

[embo slice]

killing penalties AND a powerplay goal.....go devs....and another goal....zajac has emerged!!!

[kat]

clarkson!! who would have guessed

[NJSwampdragon]

For all those Clarkson haters, he is the team's #3 goal score with 5, on pace for 22. That's Randy Mckayesqe. Great kid, hard worker.

[Maxwell]

Too bad about Madden, but we need him down the stretch to be healthy. Hopefully we can get a win without him.

Oduya turned the puck over 2 times REALLY badly. Once behind the net, once at the point. What does MSGplus do? Interview him! Blah blah blah assist blah blah blah. He had an especially bad 1st - hopefully he doesn't lose this game up 2-0.

Oduya sucks!

[Hattrick]

yea Zajac, good for him

[Jeff]

He made up for it with the shot that lead to Clarkie's tip.

[Puckster]

It was nice to see Zajac get one. Also, nice tip by Clarkson. That's exactly how our PP should work.

[Steve]

Goals from the d in back to back games - I am going to play lotto

[embo slice]

another softee for weekes....i feel bad, but he can't keep letting those up...we won't be seeing much of him if it continues....way to pick him up devils with that 3rd goal though

[jake]

Salvador scored in game 5 of the playoffs last year, no?

[embo slice]

since salmella has impressed and has got a huge shot, when Greene returns, who is out? i'm thinking mottau

[DiscordantLight]

Im startin to lose my faith in Weekes :(

[Kyle]

Ya, Salvador scored from the red line as it bounced of a rangers back or something.

[Steve]

Wow - 2 goals at the end of the period - these usually happen against us

[Brodeur30]

3 assist night for ZPARRRRRRRRR

BIG GOAL TO GET THAT 2 GOAL LEAD BACK!

Finish this devs!

[Brodeur30]

btw I hope Gionta is taking notes as to where he's scoring these goals at!! keep going to the top of the crease and battling Gio!

[embo slice]

hey shari....its h.s. football time......get to the tv quick

[Fitz]

That was excellent -embo slice

[Shari]

I was so excited for it, a good night is had by all.