Salvador won't play tonight; Clemmensen to start again

Defenseman Bryce Salvador will sit out tonight's game against Ottawa with an upper body injury, Devils coach Brent Sutter said after today's morning skate.

Salvador was injured in Wednesday's 5-3 win in Buffalo and did not play in the third period. Sutter said he didn't find out Salvador definitely would not play tonight until 9 a.m. today.

"But you always prepare in your mind," Sutter said. "When you've got a player that's questionable, you always lean towards the caution part of it. Do you wish he could play? Yeah, but you're also very cautious with the fact that there's a possibility he may not. So, when I found out today, it was just, 'OK, we'll move forward.'"

When I asked if Salvador might be able to play Sunday afternoon against Philadelphia, Sutter said, "possibly."

Andy Greene will take Salvador's spot in the lineup. Greene has not played since Oct. 29 because of a broken right hand.

Greene was paired with Mike Mottau in today's morning skate. Mottau and Greene were playing together before Greene was injured against Toronto on Oct. 29.

Sutter said that they would at least start tonight's game together.

"That could change here," Sutter said. "We'll start that way and we'll see. When Greener got hurt, they were playing very well together, so we thought that we would go back to that. But that could change."

Johnny Oduya will begin tonight's game in Salvador's usual spot next to Paul Martin and Jay Leach will play with Colin White. 

Greene was looking forward to getting back in the lineup. He said he got the word from Sutter during the morning skate that he would play tonight.

"I've got to keep it simple," he said. "It's been a while, obviously, since I played a game and I'm looking forward to it and am excited for it."

Greene had been wearing a piece of hard plastic on the back of his hand for extra protection, but didn't wear it in Thursday's optional practice or today's morning skate and probably won't wear it tonight.

"I don't think I'm going to wear it," he said. "I think I'm going to leave it off. I feel OK without it. Even when I wear it, I can't feel it on. It doesn't bother me at all. But I think I'll go without it."

***

Scott Clemmensen will start his third consecutive game in net and for the 10th time in the last 11 games.

Clemmensen spoke to the media this morning, but was instructed by management after Tuesday's shootout loss in Toronto to no longer make himself available during the late afternoon pre-game availability. Clemmensen did several interviews before the game in Toronto because he played there last season -- while general manager Lou Lamoriello watched closely.

"It wasn't my decision," Clemmensen said. "It was an order from up top. I really don't care."

Clemmensen did not attend the optional morning skate on Tuesday, so his only availability with the media that day was after the team arrived at the arena for the game between 4:45 and 5:30.

A lot of goaltenders don't speak to the media at all on game days, so we've been lucky in New Jersey with Martin Brodeur, who almost always talks on game days, and now Clemmensen. It's too bad that Lamoriello ordered Clemmensen to change that.

It makes you wonder if Lamoriello will order another player not to talk in the afternoons if he struggles during one game. It wasn't as if Clemmensen played that poorly that night in a 3-2 shootout loss.

***

John Madden said his back feels OK today after it tightened up on him during Wednesday's game. He said he has not had any previous problems with his back this season and doesn't know what caused it to tighten up on Wednesday.

"I have no idea," Madden said.

Comments

[jermz]

TG, what would it take for the game to get snowed out?

[Speedz]

hopefully it wont come to that. The highlights of my week are coming home from school and jsut waiting for the game and finally watching the game.

[Jaco]

I'm glad Greene is back in the line-up, and I understand why Sutter put him back with Mottau to start with because they were playing well together. Greene showed us what he is capable of in the games before his injury. I'm worried about the Leech and White pairing, but it might OK against the Senators.

[dannyd]

"Clemmensen did several interviews before the game in Toronto because he played there last season -- while general manager Lou Lamoriello watched closely."....some people may not like the way lou controls EVERYTHING but I find quotes/scenarios like that pretty dam funny. Just lets everyone on the team know that if lou thinks you're getting "too big" about yourself he WILL put an end to it. And though I know most will disagree, I think Clemenson has been displaying signs of being more about himself than the team in some quotes...some which to me have been statements by him to try and attract other teams to consider him as a future #1. (although it may just be my irritation over Weekes not getting a fair shot in my eyes)

[DevilsCapsGal]

The game will NOT be snowed out! These guys are tough and it's nothing like the snowstorm of '87....isn't that the right year, where they had 322 folks at the CAA? (I'm too young to remember....)

The show WILL go on tonight! Be there!

[Festus]

Don't you think Lou is simply trying to keep Clemmensen focused? He is establishing himself as the #1 goalie and maybe his ego is starting to grow and this way he stays centered. Plus, he has been winning, so all of the attention has been good...maybe this will protect him from negative attention if he should start to struggle.

[Bobby]

I love you reporters TG, but you guys never seem to call out the Devils (in print) on this, their icy relationship with fans, their lack of marketing and ability to sell "a logo" to fans without discounting it or pissing off season ticket holders.

[Just Some Guy]

The 334 Club:

* On January 22, 1987, the Devils defeated the Calgary Flames 7-5 in front of only 334 fans, who made the trek to the arena despite 15 inches of freshly fallen snow. Only 13 Devils arrived by the time the game was scheduled to start, causing the contest to be delayed 106 minutes.

[jules]

@dannyd: I actually agree with you on Clemmer, and not just because I wish Weekes would play more. Maybe Clemmer could have just changed faster. Surely, this does not have to do solely with his performance against Toronto; if that's what Lou told him, it's just an excuse. Several players have played badly and not been told to stop talking to the media.

As far as I know, the Devils have been very good about working with the media (I think they just won an award for it). I feel bad for Tom, but honestly, it's not like I check his blog every day for quotes from Clemmer. As long as the coverage overall doesn't suffer (and it seems to me that the Devils have enabled better media coverage more than deterred it), can't complain with Ol' Uncle Lou doing what he thinks is best.

[SonicDude]

salvador injury will hurt...stay at home d-men are vital when playing ottawa. white and leach need to be at their best, and stand up spezza at the blue line.

funny how, with martin, oduya and greene, we probably now need another top 4 stay at home more than another puckcarrier.

[Tom Gulitti]

I would say there is almost no way the game will be snowed out. The Senators are in town and skated this morning, so travel for the teams won't be an issue.

There's always a concern about the officials getting here, but, barring that, I can't see them postponing this one.

Whether the fans can get here usually doesn't factor into the decision.

At least some of you can come by train.

[Tom Gulitti]

FYI: That award was not given out by the writers.

[frankied]

This injury secrecy is starting to piss me off. What is the big deal about letting the fans know what is wrong with Salvador? "Upper body injury"? What the hell is that? This isn't even the playoffs. It is a regular season game in December. There is no competitive advantage for knowing what injury Salvador has or not. Teams don't game plan according to what injury Salvador has. This is lunacy. Lou thinks he is Bill Belichick.

[Mike in Idaho]

About Clemmensen, I think Lou did absolutely the right thing, I think you could see he was getting too big a head when they had his Geico quote of the day a couple of games ago where he was talking about his own success, I can't remember the quote exactly but it bugged me. Of course it may have bugged me more since I don't think Weekes is getting anything close to a fair shot and I think Clemmensen has had a few shaky outings in this recent run. Good luck traveling through the snow everyone, I'll sit this one out since I have plenty of Idaho snow to deal with lol. Hope to make it to a game in April though...

[Tom Gulitti]

I disagree with the assessment that Clemmensen was getting "a big head." I've never heard that from him in talking to him and the only time he talks about doing well is when he's asked. I will say he has expressed more confidence in himself than two years ago, but I don't think it's been a "big head" type thing. I think he realizes that one bad outing could land him back where he started and, so far, I can't recall a bad goal against that he has not taken the blame for and admitted it was one he'd like to have back -- without even being pressed by the media to do so. (Not all goaltenders do that).

My take on this was Clemmensen was busy with the media before that one game and Lou noticed it and that was it. It had nothing to do with Clemmensen's ego or anything like that.

It's not like he's doing lots of interviews before every game. In fact, I can think of maybe two or three total games in which he talked during that late afternoon availability -- and all three times it was because he was not available in the morning and was asked for by the media.

[SonicDude]

TG -

liked your quotes around "upper body injury" wording in paper today.

hockey players seem to carry about each other's injuries more than players in any other sport. so telling the world what is wrong with a player might actually help the player.

our GM is just too darn fixed in his ways to change his modus operandi.

[Just Some Guy]

Much ado about very little.

[Just Some Guy]

It will be very interesting to see which NJ team draws the most fans tonight in the storm. The Nets are home at Izod with Jason Kidd coming back to town. No mass transit to the Meadowlands, but with a real storyline vs. mass transit with no real storyline. My money is on the Devils.

[jules]

If Clemmer doesn't often do afternoon interviews anyway, JSG is right. Is the way the Devils treat the radio people that different from the writers in terms of media availability? Or maybe things simply come off differently when written rather than heard.

[Nanoose]

TG - which players are usually available before the game in that 4:45-5:30pm period?

[JJ]

Lou's first concern is the product that's put on the ice and he's got a great track record in that regard. Keeping player comments to a minimum is all about team discipline. It limits rumors & speculation by the media and that is a good thing for players' psyche.

[Tom Gulitti]

Usually all players are available between around 4:30 and 5:30 (for a 7 p.m. start). You have to ask for them to come out of the locker room (through the media relations staff), though. If a guy is busy getting treatment, then sometimes he's not available, which is understandable.

Not to put words in Kevin Weekes' mouth, but I believe he prefers not to talk during that period when he is playing, which is his choice and also understandable.

The difference here is that Clemmensen -- like Martin Brodeur -- doesn't mind doing it. It's not like he's asked for before every game, but given that the Devils haven't had many full morning skates lately, that means that if there is a question that I would like to ask Clemmensen on a game day, I have to wait until after the game to ask it.

And when you tell one player not to talk, then my concern is that it's only a matter of time before someone else is told not to talk before games. Then, when you guys want to know the answer to some question, I won't be able to find out the answer for you - or for me.

[lash26]

Interesting - now that this was brought up about Clemmer, it makes me wonder if Lou also told the marketing department to remove the promo splash page with his picture on it. The other day the initial splash page at the Devils site had a picture of Clemmer in color on a b&w background with links to purchase tickets for the next few home games. This splash has since been changed to one with Elias in color on a b&w background --

I didn't really think anything of it, but with this in mind, maybe Lou is feeling Clem is getting a bit too confident. Some of his comments have seemed a bit over the top, particularly the one where he started speaking about next season and getting a starting role on another club. Players don't usually take the bait on those types of questions and just reply that they are focussing on the present, but Clem seemed more than willing --

[devils95]

just leave an hour earlier than normal and put it in 4WD. That's what I am doing today. See you all there.

[TG]

I may have missed it, but I don't remember reading or hearing Clemmensen say anything about getting a starting job on another team next season.

If he did, where was it?

Really, you guys are reading something into this that is not there -- both about Clemmensen and Lou Lamoriello.