Mottau lucky to escape; Salmela steps up

The way the Devils' luck with injuries has been going this season, you had to think Mike Mottau wasn't coming back after he was struck above the right eye with the puck with 7:29 left in the first period. Mottau was sitting on the bench when teammate Mike Rupp accidentally deflected the puck at him.

"I saw the play," Mottau said.  "I was looking from the bench through the glass at the rim and then the puck came and (Colin White) ducked. I saw it at the last second, but it was bang, bang."

Mottau fell backward off the bench and was cut above the eye. Devils coach Brent Sutter shook his head. He said he asked himself, "what's next?"

Mottau went to the locker room and took five stitches to close the cut, but was back on the bench by the end of the period.

"We're just having a bad run with injuries right now," Mottau said.

***

As I mentioned earlier, rookie defenseman Anssi Salmela played his best NHL game of the season tonight. He played a season-high 20:05. He skated well, competed hard, didn't run out of position too much, and got most of his shots through on the power play.

"He played good tonight," Sutter said. "He stepped up."

Sutter was also happy with the play of Jay Leach, who was paired with Salmela at even strength. Those two played together in Lowell, too, so maybe that helped.

Leach played 13:25 and was unluckly on Ales Hemsky's power-play goal, which turned out to be the game-winner. The puck rolled off Hemsky's stick and Leach tried to push it into the right corner, but it hit Hemsky's left skate and went in instead.

"I think that's just a hockey play," Leach said. "I'm going to poke it and it went right off his skate and in the net, but what are you going to do? I'd like to have it back, but I'm not sure what I could have done."

Comments

[Robbie]

Anyone else think Leach had an OK game? I think he should stay up instead or Brookbank and Salmela.

[Robbie]

ment instead of Brookbank and Salmela

[Brian]

leach was good but salmela at least earned another look for next game to see if he can repeat what he did tonight...and i think that if we're only going to have one good scoring line until rolston comes back we might as well put elias on there with parise so we can go from one goal a game to two, sometimes three if we can convert a power play

[Steve]

Leach is pretty steady, don't mind him one bit as an injury fill-in. I think he bring more to the table than Brookbank and his D is better than Salmela's.

[Puckster]

Salmela had a tremendous game tonight. Leach played well too. Actually, the whole team played well. The second goal was BS. I remember a goal getting disallowed from Brylin last year that was exactly the same type of play--directing it in with the skate even without the "distinct kicking motion."

The effort was there. It's kind of hard to score goals when Zubrus, Clarkson and Rupp make up your second scoring line. Nothing against those guys. Rupp is a good forth liner. Zubrus is playing decently this year and I've been impressed with Clarkson's improvement this year. However, that line combination isn't exactly going to put in a ton of goals.

The fact that they are competing against quality teams with the amount of injuries the Devils have suffered this year is a positive sign. Hopefully, Martin, Salvador, Gionta and Rolston will be back soon. If we can stay in playoff contention for when Marty returns and our team is (hopefully) healthy, I think we can make a good run in the postseason.

[Jason]

That line combo, was actually one of our better lines toward the end of last season, but I agree, when you are counting on an "energy" line to score your goals, you are asking for trouble.

[Dan]

This coach continues to underwhelm.

Mr. Burns, we need you.

[Puckster]

Yeah, my point is that they were our second scoring line tonight (unless you count the Madden line as our second scoring line). That's problematic if you're trying to score goals. Rupp, Clarkson and Zubrus are good players either on the fourth line together or spread out through the lines. However, having them together on a scoring line just isn't going to produce a lot of goals. Couple that with Elias on the checking line and that's why we only have one real offense line right now with Parise/Zajac/Langenbrunner.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

What more can Sutter do? i think we all agreed that last years squad was far from perfect, but yet sutter still got 99 points out of them! his year they almost needed a second page on the jumbotron to list all the injured players, and i have been going for years and i have never seen one like it i might like to add, and yet the team still competes! Last night i know i wasn't the only one to think that there was a good chance we were gonna get blown out ESPECIALLY after Salvatore went down. losing 3-1 to whats once again a top contender to repeat as cup champions is not bad. Even with all the injuries the team still played competitive. Dan, i don't know what ANY coach could do with the team Sutter is playing with right now. But i say this they at least show up ready to play it seems every game.

The Offense is what it is... our lines are in shambles right now and really from the team we started with at Game 1, only one line would still be fully intact, and thats the Parise line. For tonights game, BOTH Elias' normal partners were out of the game in Gionta and Rolston. So where is the offense were all wondering.... well its unfortunately on in the trainers room( lord knows that room must almost look like a civil war hospital during a battle with guys in the halls waiting!) but it will get better. I think if were really fans we can take a few positives out of the last 2 losses. The first, and most important, is that we have learned that even against the best competition, Weekes will keep us in the game. and the second is that with the exception of the debacle a week ago on monday, the team has been playing hard. Just think before we all panic. This team once it gets healthy could be VERY DANGEROUS... especially come playoff time, we just need to keep our heads above water without Marty

[Brian]

Clarkson and Zubrus are actually playing pretty well this year. I don't mind them being on what's classified as a "scoring line" as long as the other guy isn't Rupp. He's a good fourth liner, and brings a lot of energy but somebody like Gionta would probably be a better fit with them if they're being put out there to score. The Elias checking line experiment should probably put on hold for now, and for now I mean anytime we play Tampa Bay

[jules]

@Ditti: Agree. Isn't there something to be said about the players putting in the effort, even when it seems like every game, someone is injured? You can't blame him for juggling the lines because he simply has no choice; injuries are dictating it. And Sutter doesn't hate Euros! If he's not playing the kids (and Salmela had 20 minutes tonight) maybe he has a reason. You'd think that he knows a thing or two about developing younger players. Sutter does some strange things, and often the value of his actions isn't seen until later.

[in lou i trust]

AN AMEN BACK TO DITTI.....i'm a bit down though on langenbrunner(and prob for good reason), but that line has been good...basically cuz of #9.....we will get healthier, but we have to get points in order to make the "when marty returns" part of the season count....and not just even points to get in the playoffs, but lets scratch for more and climb as high as possible....lets fight now that we've been backed in a corner!!!

[in lou i trust]

*enough for even* great job by me

[Frank Pyzik]

i think leach had exactly what everyones saying, he had an ok game. but to think of him taking salmela's spot is foolish. Salmela will hopefully get better with time, I wasn't the biggest fan at first but I realized that his guy had never played US hockey before. Give him time and i think he'll shine.

[JohnnyB]

I was at the game tonight! I've been very impressed with Salmela and I feel is getting better and better every game. After I heard he signed with the Devils, and looking up videos and reviews about him I was very much anticipating his play for the team. Tonight, after seeing him for the first time; how he played very well on the point, was good defensively, and a few times he rushed the puck past the nuetral zone, I would like to see more of him it's too bad he doesn't have a point yet...

[Kelly]

Salmela had a fantastic game. He stood out more than Leach but Leach had some nice plays as well. I think having Salmela playing the point helped his cause too since he obviously is use to scoring on the point. I liked both their attitudes during the postgame interviews. I think we'll be seeing Salmela staying with the big club down the road if he continues with his progress. Leach needs a couple more games under his belt and then we'll see how he progresses. At least he got the first game out of the way.

It can only go upward with these 2.

I'd like to see Davis get some more time as well. Did anyone else think Bergfors had a decent game as well?

[Segundo]

I think the best thing that can happen to this franchise is to use Brodeur's injury to stink and restock with a pick inside of 10 for once. Other than Parise and Rolston, there is no offensive talent on this team (sorry, Elias is not the Elias we used to know) and the defense is comprised of a bunch of second and third unit guys.

As much as I'd hate to see it, it's time to re-tool this team for the long-term.

[Falcone]

Salmela had a great game, but we're just too decimated to really say this guy or that guy needs to step up. The guys who started here at the beginning of the year and who aren't hurt, everyone one of them needs to step up and be a leader. But it was the Lowell Devils playing tonight.

[Devilswede]

The problem with this team is the coach. He just doesnn't have a clue. Get rid of him already and bring back Pat Burns!

[Jersey Mike]

I think the Devils should set up a M.A.S.H. unit outside the Rock.

[MoonDragn]

I think our Defensemen are like jeckle and hyde, they show up some games and not others. But overall they are still fairly good defensemen compared to some other teams. Our problem really is our offense. I think Sutter needs to stop making them practice power plays and have them practice how to skate and how to hit the net...

If our other guys could get that puck through a goalies legs like Hossa or Souray did in the last two games or even the way Parise deflected the puck through the legs, then we can score on anyone. Right now they can't hit the open net if their life depended on it.

[Jack the Bear]

I think Coach Sutter is doing a great job with what is left of this team. I've been following the team for more years than I want to count and I've never seen an injury list like this. The team is staying competitive and doing what they need to do to stay in it until everyone comes back. You can't blame anyone right now.....Last year I blamed everyone!!! It's just bad luck right now...and the coach has done the most of what he has....... This will be a season to remember... RANGERS SUCK!!!!

[MoonDragn]

Well you know watching these games is like remembering old times. Back before Brodeur when we used to lose ALOT.

[mikeP]

TG, I know Rolston has begun skating. What's the ETA on his return? For selfish reasons I'd like him to return this upcoming weekend against the Caps (I'll be at the game on Sat.) but I doubt that's likely. Also, what about Holik and his broken finger? I haven't heard about his comeback. This weekend would seem to be the timeline for either of their return.

Hopefully Gio and Salvador can return for Wednesday's game, we need all the help we can get

Clemmer held his own other than the weak Souray goal last night, I still don't understand how the league allowed Hemsky's goal to stand, he DID turn his skate towards the goal to knock it in. It's a shame that turned out to be the winner.

As for getting on Sutter, how can we be blamed with all the injuries we have? Without Brodeur, Rolston,Holik,Greene, giona, Salvador, etc Pat Burns, hell even Scotty Bowman would struggle to get this team into the playoffs. Yes, I realize that Elias is kind of wasted on the checking line, but has struggled for the past season and 1/2 to kind any kind of chemistry. He did play really well with Zach, but ZZPop have the only chemistry (other than Madden/Pando) on this team, and have been my far our best line all season long. Gio and Elias have just looked lost with Gomez, and the fault is still on Lou for not acquiring a playmaking center for them. Zubrus definitely isn't that

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Elias with zubrus and Rolston at RW when he returns, moving Gio to the checking line again, and eventually to a trade by the deadline for a "D" man. Gio's a good team player but his play has declines so much since his 48 goal season I don't think he's even worth the $4M he's making nevermind getting a raise.

[maddening11]

our defense is decimated, the best goalie of all time is injured, and yet our biggest problem is STILL scoring goals. I have been saying all along we don't need him, but I'm seriously starting to think that making an offer to Shanny is a good idea. I know he is old and I know he is not a savior, but the bottom line is we need someone who can put the puck in the net, and he has proven year after year that he can do that. I think with all the money we will save from players on injured reserve we can afford him. We need to stay in the middle of the pack until we get our full squad back and can make a run, and I think Shanny could help to that end. Also, imagine a 4th line of Holik, Shanahan, Zubrus when we have our full squad back.