Sutter: Holik won't play Thursday, "good chance" Rolston will, Madden definitely will

Although Bobby Holik participated in his first practice today since he fractured his right pinky on Oct. 18, Devils coach Brent Sutter said Holik won't play in the team's next game on Thursday night in Philadelphia.

"He's back skating," Sutter said. "He won't be playing on Thursday. It's conditioning and just getting strength again in his hand."

Sutter sounded optimistic, however, that Brian Rolston could make his return Thursday from a high right ankle sprain and said that John Madden will definitely play against the Flyers after missing the last four games with a bruised left ankle.

"We'll see how tomorrow goes with Brian," Sutter said. "If things go good tomorrow with Brian, there will be a good chance he'll play Thursday. And Mad Dog for sure Thursday." 

Rolston skated at right wing again today on the fourth line with Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and Mike Rupp.

Holik said things went well in his first practice. He had been skating for a week on his own. Prior to that, he worked out off the ice for a week following four weeks in which he was not allowed to do any physical activicity while he recovered from surgery on his pinky.

"It was first practice. I was excited," Holik said. "It's good to be back with the team and doing what we're here for."

Holik said he felt comfortable stickhandling. He had some tape wrapped around his pinky to gaurd against the friction inside of his glove, but said he is wearing no extra protection on it.

"I don't really have a long way to go to be my best," Holik joked about his stickhandling.

Holik said he didn't know how long it will take before he's ready to play. He sounded as if he wants to play Thursday (but that was before Sutter said he definitely would not.)

"I'm doing everything I can be ready as soon as I can," Holik said. "So, if I'm ready and (the coaches) think I'm ready then we begin the thought process. Tomorrow is another day."

Holik said he was cleared medically by the doctor on Monday to both practice and play in games.

***

Sutter said Petr Vrana was sent down to play in games because he probably would not be playing this week with the injured players returning.

"He needs to play a little," Sutter said. "With guys getting healthy, he probably would not be playing."

***

Sutter said defenseman Andy Greene (broken right hand) has not been cleared by doctors yet to begin practicing with the team. Greene has been skating on his own.

Comments

[JC]

With at least the two back in action we should have some added spunk against the flyers. I just hope everyone stays healthy. Go DEVILS!

[JohnnyB]

Welcome back the 2-1 final score games...

[Kerry]

When Rolston is ready I would put him on the line with Zach and Travis. Move Jamie down to the 3rd and Clarkson to the fourth line.

[Pearl Jammed]

Sutter already said he is keeping his top 2 lines the way they are, but if the team should struggle, i think we all know Sutter isn't adverse to shuffling the deck

[Craigwell]

I don't know about the 2-1 games, without Marty.. I think the team will continue risking a little trying to score more goals trying to protect Clemmer and Weeksie.. Hence, they'll allow more.

Last year they found out what happens when you try to win games 2-1.. For whatever reason the offense goes cold and can't finish their chances.

[Jeff]

I think we may be a little more responsible defensively when we get healthy but will still have to aggressive and score goals if we intend to stay in the race until Marty returns. We can expect Clemmer and Weekes to constantly be under the give up a goal and there goes the game pressure.

[Tom Gulitti]

Sutter talked again today about wanting to play his top lines against the other team's top lines, so I don't know how much matching of Madden's line we'll see on Thursday.

[craig malinowsky]

Rolston should play with Zajac, and Parise. Langs with Madden to add a little offense....

[DS]

Well, if that's the case TG then I see no place for Madden and Pandolfo on this team. They're shutdown players, not someone you put out there to score. They have a role and that's to prevent the opposition from scoring. If they're not being matched against the other teams' top lines, than what's the point in having them?

[MoonDragn]

I think against top lines like Crosby, Malkin etc, you would need someone who is very good at stick handling defensively. Thats Pandolfo, Madden etc. Elias can't do it, he likes to backpass into the opposing players. Parise can't do it, he gets pushed around because he is so small and often forced off the puck. Gionta for the same reason. Zubrus is great at keeping the puck, but he's kind of slow. Langenbrunner is getting too old to handle it, but he could do it in his younger days. I think Rolston would be good at this too.

Since we need to keep ZZpop together, that really leaves Pandolfo-Madden-Rolston as the ideal shutdown line.

[Tom Gulitti]

I said I don't know how much Madden's line will be matched on "Thursday". Although Sutter is talking again about abandoning that way of doing things, I'll believe it when he keeps doing it for more than a few games (with Madden healthy) and they are able to win those games against quality opponents, such as the ones they'll face over the next few weeks. They've got Philadelphia Thursday and Montreal on Saturday, followed by Pittsburgh, the Rangers and Buffalo.

We're going to find out a lot about this team in the next 10 days or so.

[Grant M.]

Also, I would get rid of Brookbank on the 4th line. Rather see Bergfors take his spot

[Pearl Jammed]

too right you are TG, the next 5 games should tell us alot about where this team is in relation to the "class" of the east this year

[Tom Gulitti]

Here's what Sutter said today on that subject:

"I trust the fact that our top players can play against the other team's top players and they've shown that they can. There's this myth that only certain players can play against them. I don't agree with that. I like the Travis Zajac line and the Dainius Zubrus line out against the other teams' top lines. Yet, you know that Madden and Pandolfo and whoever they play with is going to get that opportunity too. But, when you're on the road and you don't have the last line change you don't have to worry about changing on the fly as much. You still want to make sure you do get your matchup as far which line you want against who, but you don't have to worry about the fact that John Madden's line is the only line that can play against this line. And I've said that for over a year now that we shouldn't have to worry about that because this team takes a lot of pride in playing without the puck and it doesn't matter whether you're Travis Zajac's line or Dainius Zubrus' line or Johnny Madden's line or Bobby Holik's line or whoever it may be. Everyone has responsiblities without the puck and has to play well defensively. Yet, the way those top two lines are playing, they need to be on the ice."

This is just a guess by me, but the part where Sutter said "Madden and Pandolfo and whoever they play with" leads me to believe he might use Rolston with those two at some point on Thursday. He wouldn't commit to keeping Rolston with Rupp and Leblond on Thursday night when I asked him about it today.

[Pearl Jammed]

well it wouldn't suprise me that Rolston starts back with limited minutes. The guy, as he admitted to TG in todays article in the Record, is going "to be a little rusty" so that makes complete sense to me. and i have to say that i think Sutter is right in theory with that, especially the part about how you have to be able to do it on the road. But at home we get the last change for a reason, and he should be looking to take advantage of that and milk it for all its worth, and MATCH the Madden line against the Crosby and Lecavalier line as much as possible ESPECIALLY with a lead

[Jason]

Sutter said the same thing last year about Madden/Pando. Didn't last. Like I said, this guy is a short rolodex of ideas. Once he runs out, he just starts over again at "A".

[RestlessKnight]

I don't mind the line matching, but it can not be to the point where LL had them out every shift vs the Lightning in the playoffs. It was pure stupidity and they were spent and never recovered for the next and last round. I'd also rather never see the checking line out in the last couple minutes when were trailing. Don't pull the goalie and put out the checking line.

[devscupchamps]

Hey Moondragn, when is Parise forced off the puck? He is one of our strongest players with the puck and keeps it and moves it while being hacked at. I don't mind our top lines playing against the other team's top line at times. I think this team, at times in the past, has been more worried about matching lines than scoring even when we've been behind late in games. I love the defense first mentality of this team but there comes a time when you have to forget about that and go for a goal. What good is preventing another goal if it stops you from scoring yourself? Either way you lose so might as well go for it. I find it comical that Sutter sent Vrana down for conditioning claiming he needs to play because it wouldn't be necessary if Sutter actually played him. Yet another prospect whose development has been stunted by Sutter. I disagree with trying to ease Rolston back into playing. When Elias came back from hepatitis, he was thrown into the fire and did real well.