Sutter won't name starter for Friday's game

Devils coach Brent Sutter had plenty of good things to say about how Scott Clemmensen played in tonight's 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers, but he wouldn't commit to starting him again in Friday night's game against the Islanders.

"We'll let you know in the morning who we're playing," Sutter said.

Clemmensen has started the last three games after Kevin Weekes started four of the first five games following Martin Brodeur's injury.

Clemmensen did not hide that he wants to start again against the Islanders.

"I want to play every game," Clemmensen said. "But Kevin has played well and deserves consideration to play as well every night. I take each game individually. Tonight, I knew I was going to play and that's it. I tried to do the best I can tonight to earn another chance to play. If it's tomorrow night, that's great. If it's Sunday or whenever down the road, then I try to play well then too."

Clemmensen made 23 saves. He lost his bid for his third career NHL shutout on Michael Frolik's power-play goal at 8:42 of the third.

"What I like about him is he's very, very under control," Sutter said. "He's very poised. He challenges shooters well and doesn't over-react. For a goalie, he's just under control. And that's what you want from a goaltender. Again tonight he made big saves at key times for us when we had some breakdowns in our own zone."

***

Sutter also likes the way the line of Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus and Brian Gionta has played the last three games. Elias and Gionta each had a goal and an assist tonight and Zubrus has two assists.

In the last three games, that trio has accounted for six goals and six assists. Elias has four of the goals.

"The three of them are playing pretty well," Sutter said. "Brian has been playing well for a period of time and wasn't getting rewarded. Now, he's starting to get rewarded. Patty's getting rewarded for the things he's doing and Zubes is the big guy on that line. He's protecting pucks and he's doing a good job too. That line has been productive. I thought tonight all three of them had a real good game,"

***

The two negatives for the Devils tonight were their play in the second period, in which they were outshot 10-1 but still outcored the Panthers 1-0, and alllowing another power-play goal.

"That second period we got back on our heels a little bit," Gionta said. "We were getting outcompeted in the second period and we were getting hemmed in to our own end. We've got to be a little harder on the puck to get get pucks out and not allow them to get us back on our heels. That's exactly what happened. they kept taking it to us and it was kind of survival mode."

They've allowed at least one power-play goal in five consecutive games and have given up a total of six power-play goals over that span. Florida's power-play goal -- scored by Frolik -- came with Elias in the box for high sticking Bryan McCabe broke up Clemmensen's shutout bid.

"The PK was fine until there was an unfortunate situation we just had a kind of breakdown on the goal they got," Sutter said "We talked about it, but it happened. Outside of that, the PK was pretty good." 

***

As I mentioned during my live game blog, there were scouts from 14 different teams here tonight. But, from what I can gather they were here to see Florida and not the Devils. Several said they would not be here for Friday's game and were following Florida, which plays at Boston Friday night.

I guess they are all after Jay Bouwmeester. I still don't see the Panthers trading him before making one more try to re-sign him. They can't do that until January. If that fails, which I expect it will, then they'll start fielding trade offers.

Comments

[Robbie]

I was watching Elias in Belize and it really changed my perspective of him

[NJDevils44]

Ya Robbie me too,

does anyone know if they are airing it again or if I can see it online? I missed the first half...TG?

[Robbie]

NJDevils44: I looked at the NHL Networks schedule and they are replaying it at 4 in the afternoon

[Amerz]

Just checked my satellite schedule and looks like tomorrow from 4:00-5:oo pm

[jules]

It's on again on Friday @ 4 pm. Great stuff.

[TG]

I think it's on again at 4 p.m. tomorrow. That's what Patrik said before the game. You'll have to set your DVR or VCR if you're not going to be home.

[Amerz]

http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp You can check it out online too,

[TG]

A few of you confirmed that already.

[Vishal]

It should have been obvious the scouts were there to see Bouwmeester. He's probably the hottest commodity of this years free agent pool. I mean there's Hossa and Niedermayer, but Bouw is much younger and everyone will want a shot.

[Robbie]

I didn't know Elias was on the Czech NHL09

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

i say this much about Bouwmeester.... i don;t think he has played all that great this season(i know i cut him in all my fantasy leagues) but i think as Devils fans we shouldn't have gotten our hopes up that the scouts were there for any of the Devils. Lets face it, for who we would be willing to give up, i dunno what would draw better a wang chung reunion concert or the 2 scouts that would come to see Colin White and Brian Gionta. it is what it is.... we arent getting Jay Bouwmeester, its not gonna happen for what we have to offer so i think we should just forget about it... maybe try to sign him in the offseason. personally i would love to see Niedermayer take a victory lap through Jersey before retirement, but i doubt that will happen also.

Great stuff TG thanks for all the updates