Madden will play tonight; Salvador still out

Devils center John Madden will play tonight against Boston after missing the last two games because he was ill.

Madden said he finally started to feel better on Monday.

"Yesterday I felt pretty good," he said. "I had a good skate. I didn't have any energy. I didn't know what was going on."

Madden said he did not know exactly what his illness was -- he described them as "flu-like symptoms" -- but was relieved it was over.

"You know when you get up in the morning how you're feeling and I felt pretty normal, so that was a good indication," he said.

Madden said his back, which tightened up on his last Wednesday in Buffalo feels "good" and that it would not have kept him from playing on Friday or Sunday if he had not been ill.

***

Defenseman Bryce Salvador will miss his third game in a row tonight because of an undisclosed upper body injury.

"He's the same," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "We'll continue to monitor him day to day."

Sutter said Salvador has shown some improvement, but did not get specific.

"I think there's improvement, yeah," Sutter said. "He's just not ready to have contact yet."

Sutter said Salvador has not been skating or doing any off-ice exercise.

***

Zach Parise claimed he was one of the top contenders in the ugliest Christmas sweater contest the players had at their annual team holiday party last week. No actual winner was selected.

"I think I was pretty close," Parise said. "It was gross. I bought it at a thrift shop."

***

The Devils' lineup for tonight's game.

Forwards: Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner; Patrik Elias-Dainius Zubrus-Brian Gionta; Jay Pandolfo-John Madden-Mike Rupp; Brian Rolston-Bobby Holik-David Clarkson.

Defensemen: Johnny Oduya-Paul Martin; Colin White-Jay Leach; Mike Mottau-Andy Greene.

Goaltender: Scott Clemmensen.

Healthy scratch: D/RW Sheldon Brookbank.

Injured: G Martin Brodeur (torn left biceps tendon); D Bryce Salvador (upper body).

Comments

[Pete]

Definitely a good sign that Madden is back. We're definitely going to need him against Boston's potent offense.

[steve]

trade madden for some offensive players ot play with ROLSTON..plus we cant resign both madden and gio

[DevilfanFLA]

But can Madden shoot on net? That is the question...love the guy but has there ever been a more inaccurate shooter???

[SonicDude]

kevin

you make some good points about elias, altho i personally think you're also giving him a few too many excuses.

elias has the talent to be a point a game guy, but was not that guy for a long time. i hope he can sustain this level. he is fun to watch again.

===

missing bryce is a big deal tonight against the new beast of the east given their size.

madden and pando have to be better b/c bruins roll 4 lines.

[Falcone]

Madden definitely needs to find his scoring touch, as does Pando. We can't just have them be the shut down guys, we need them to rack up some points. Good to have Madden back, but need his name on the scorers sheet.

[Pat]

We should trade Madden or let him walk this year and drop Pando to the 4th line or trade him too. Last year was an abberation. If they can't shut down effectively and can't score, they are worthless. I'd rather play 9 forwards than carry dead weight.

Sutter's system is definately working and the skilled players are showing they can carry the load playing 2-way hockey. Let them play 20-25 minutes a night and we'll continue to score 5 goals/game.

[NJSwampdragon]

Madden and Pando for Gaborik
then the third line is
Rolston-Holik-Gaborik

[Ben]

god i wish there were pictures from that holiday party...see all the ugly sweaters haha

[steveo]

PAT i like your thinking Rolston played with gaborik. Holik would be great in corners and feed them the puck all game. ONE THING Devils will never do it which sucks. I do think the WILD would od it though becuz gaboriks injury prone

[Pat]

Lemaire would love to get them I bet! That would be 5.5M of salary out for 6-8 coming in.

[Steveo]

That trades actually a real possibility pat.WIld are def shopping him..and The coach of WIld would obviously love pando and madden (Lemaire)

[Pat]

The Mogilny trade came out of nowhere but I'm not holding my breath for that one. That would also involve getting rid of or dropping Gio and it appears Brent doesn't want to disrupt his lines right now. Unless you play Gab w/Rolston and Holik which was mentioned. I guess you call that the gimp line. Hel1, we got Mogilny to play 2-way, there's no reason to believe we couldn't get anyone to buy in if it meant winning the Cup or going deep in the playoffs.

[steveo]

REASON WHY DEVILS WONT DO TRADE FOR GABORIK. IF we get Gaborik and he gos donw with injury again..we basicaly loose a whole line if we trade madden and pando. We wouldnt have a 4th line. MAdden and pando dont score ever but they are a decent 4 th line.

[steveo1]

I just looked at Gaboriks stats. Their CRAZyyy. THe guys scores goals like its nothing. Twice he scored over 30 goals and only played 50 games the one season and only 65 the other. Thats insane

[JJ]

Our scoring lines are as good or better defensively as any of our other lines (or any other team's for that matter). The days of the dedicated "shut down" line are over in the NHL anyway. Sutter needs to pound into this team's head that you have to play a certain way the whole game, no more of this sit back on a lead BS because it hasn't worked in over 2 years.

[TG]

Madden and Pandolfo for Gaborik? A real possibility?

Only if Doug Risebrough wants to be fired.

[NJSwampdragon]

Madden and Pando for Gaborik trade was my idea. Credit where credit is due. lol.

[mikeP]

I want no part of the glassman, I mean Gaborik. Too much of a risk of him getting seriously hurt on every shift he takes, he's just like Martin Havlat. If Lou does anything the rest of the season he'll be adding a d-man, but without giving up one of our forwards. I don't see him trading Madden nor Gio because once Brodeur gets back healthy, we have a good chance of going deep in the playoffs. Lou will just take his chances in June trying to resign Madden or Gio. With Sutter's plan of playing his top lines against the opponent's, and with Gio's resurgence I think the odds of Gio returning are much higher than Madden. Of course if Holik does retire after this season both Madden and Gio might be back. It'll be tough though because we have to resign Oduya (UFA) and Zajac (RFA)

[Pat]

Does Oduya 2-3M max and Zajac 4-5M max make sense? Lou can offer them shorter contracts if necessary to give him flexibility before his bigger contracts fall off. That's probably why you didn't see Parise signed to a 7yr contract, although I expect his next one to be a monster.

[Shari]

Oh You didn't hear about Parise? accoring to Ranger Fans, when Parise's contract is up he will be in the Red, White, and Blue because everyone wants to play for The Rangers and he will go to the highest bidder because Hockey Players only care about $ and They have more, and no one wants to play for The Devils if they can play in the best arena in the world in front of the best Fans in the world. They all swear this is the gospel.

[NJSwampdragon]

Oduya $1-2M and Zajac $2-2.75M is more like it

[Pat]

That may be fair for Oduya but I think would be a gift for Zajac considering his improved play this year, unless it is a short term deal.

[mikeP]

I just hope that Lou doesn't draw out negotiations with Zajac past July 1st, because Kevin Lowe lusts after Zajac, and would sign him at all costs.

[Kyle]

Shari, I heard that too! It is like common sense to them

[Pearl Jammed]

LOL TG! i was thinking the same thing... for a second there i thought i was reading Hockeybuzz.com!

For real yesterday someone posts that Zach is better than Crosby, and today its Madden and Pandolfo for Gaborik! i love it there must be a gas leak somewhere!