Devils center Dainius Zubrus skipped today's morning skate because he had a touch of the stomach flu, but he will play in tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Devils coach Brent Sutter said.
"He's just not feeling 100 percent," Sutter said. "He's going to be fine. He wanted to go on actually. It was my decision not to let him go on. I thought it was best for him not to bother going out. Just relax this morning and he'll be ready to play tonight."
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As expected, Scott Clemmensen will start in net again. It will be Clemmensen's third start in a row and sixth in the last seven games. He was won his last four starts.
"He certainly has done a good job,": Sutter said. "And it has nothing to do with Weeksie. He's done a good job too. It's just that at this point in time, the decision was made to go with Clemmer right now in tonight's game and we'll re-evaluate on Thursday night (in Philadelphia). We've got four days (off) until we play again. But tonight we felt the right thing to do was to go back with Clemmer."
Dany Sabourin is expected to start in net tonight for the Penguins, who are missing Marc-Andre Fleury because of an apparent leg/groin injury.
Clemmensen made his first NHL start in Pittsburgh with the Devils on Jan. 20, 2004 and blanked the Penguins, 3-0.
Not all of Clemmesen's memories of Pittsburgh are pleasant, though. One of his two NHL starts with the Maple Leafs came on Jan. 3.
"It didn't go too well," Clemmensen recalled."It was 2-1 after the second, but they scored four goals in the third."
The Penguins scored three times in 48 seconds early in the third period and went on to a 6-2 victory. That was the last start Clemmensen made in the NHL before his 2-1 loss to Edmonton on Nov. 9 at Prudential Center.
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After getting only two goals from their defensemen in their first 17 games, the Devils have gotten four from their defense in the last four games, including Johnny Oduya' overtime winner on Wednesday night in Florida.
Sutter said the defensemen have been encouraged to become involved in the offense -- as long as it doesn't negatively affect their defensive play.
"It's something we've talked about as long as their intelligent about doing it," Sutter said. "We want our defense active in the play, but doing it with smart intelligence where we're not giving up odd-man rushes and we're not turning pucks over."
I told Oduya this morning that some of you suggested that his goal on Wednesday had something to do with him hitting me in the head with a ball of tape after the morning skate in Florida. He laughed.
'Let's keep doing it," he said. "I'll make one (a ball of tape) up right now."
Poor Tom's head... but hey, if it gets Oduya goals! ;)
Posted by: kstatik | November 29, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Gotta go with the hot hand in Clemmer. Good move.
Posted by: JJ | November 29, 2008 at 12:53 PM
TG when marty gets back do you think clemmer will take over #2 goalie duties?
Posted by: justin | November 29, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Speaking of Marty is everyone else thinking that early March is when he will return?
Posted by: Iceman | November 29, 2008 at 01:09 PM
This is what i like about sutter he knows when to be serious and he knows how to be friends with his players as well
Posted by: mark d | November 29, 2008 at 01:31 PM
How far off is Rolston TG?
Posted by: Sean | November 29, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Look on the bright side TG. At least he didn't use a real puck.
Posted by: Puckster | November 29, 2008 at 01:50 PM
I have no idea on Rolston. He's been skating, but hasn't practiced with the team yet. Hopefully, I'll find out more during the week.
Posted by: Tom Gulitti | November 29, 2008 at 01:53 PM
I still think TG should be given a karma assist on Oduya's goal.
Posted by: Puckster | November 29, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Hopefully Zubrus doesn't get checked hard and have to go to the bathroom.
"Anybody throws me against the boards I'm gonna piss all over myself."
Posted by: Pat D | November 29, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Pat D,
very nice slap shot reference
Go Devils!
Posted by: pando20rules | November 29, 2008 at 02:52 PM
I walked in on the tv conversation the other night but I'm sure someone else caught this -- Chico mentioned that Scott Clemmensen was told by the organization to find a place to live. Chico said how the Clemmensens are currently staying with the Giontas. Would they suggest he buys something or signs a lease if he wasn't staying past March when hopefully Brodeur returns?
Posted by: EssexCntyDev | November 29, 2008 at 03:58 PM
The reason they probably told Clemmer to find a place to live is because Brodeur is going to be out for a long while guaranteed and so in the foreseeable future Clemmensen will be one of the goalies in NJ. Plus it's probably a little bit draining mentally when you don't have a place to live.
Posted by: Pat D | November 29, 2008 at 04:56 PM
I get the feeling they are probably going to keep clemmer as the backup and drop weekes since his contract ends this year.
Posted by: MoonDragn | November 29, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Has Zubrus missed a game since he became a Devil?
Posted by: JohnnyB | November 29, 2008 at 05:42 PM
I wrote about Clemmensen being told he could get a place to live about two weeks ago. And he's not living with the Giontas. They've been living in a hotel.
But he told me last week that his wife found a place while he was in Florida with the team, so they'll be moving out of the hotel soon.
Posted by: Tom Gulitti | November 29, 2008 at 06:00 PM
The Clemmensens did spent Thanksgiving at the Giontas, though.
Posted by: Tom Gulitti | November 29, 2008 at 06:01 PM