Weather delays

The Devils made to Boston Tuesday night/this morning before the weather became a factor, but I was not as fortunate.

My 6 a.m. flight back to New Jersey was delayed for two hours (getting up at 4 a.m. was not fun) and now I won't be able to make it up to Boston for the team's practice this afternoon at Boston University.

With Boston expected to get nine to 12 inches of snow today, I didn't want any part of going there today after getting stuck for four hours in a snowstrom in Boston last season. So I've delayed my trip up until Thursday morning. I should be there in time for the morning skate. 

Thursday night's game at TD Banknorth Garden will be a big one. The Devils lead the Atlantic Division with 63 points and the Boston Bruins hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 75 points.

The Bruins defeated the Devils, 2-0, in the teams' only previous meeting this season on Dec. 23 at Prudential Center.

It looks like Winchester, Mass. native and BU alumnus Jay Pandolfo will be a healthy scratch for the fourth game in a row. I'm sure not playing in Boston will be strange for him. He has three goals and four assists in 19 career regular season games at TD Banknorth Garden. 

Comments

[mikeP]

maybe Lou will be loyal to Pando and trade him to his hometown team at the deadline. Plus for us is it frees up cap space to acquire a d-man who can run the powerplay

[BF]

They should allow the paper to pay the devils a fee and let you and chere travel on the charter flights.

[maddening11]

TG, i think it was 2-0 last time we played the Bruins, pretty sure Boston added an empty netter. Either way tho, big game for us because I thought we outplayed em last time and just didn't get the bounces.

[modnarm]

i personally hope clemmer plays friday. I guess it depends on how crazy the Boston game is. I've never seen him play b4 and i've seen Weekes already.. and am not all that confident in him. oi. BUT I"M GOIN TO THE GAME FRIDAY!!!

[TG]

You're right. I confused it with the Pittsburgh game that followed.

I shall correct.

[ronmexico3]

yeah the Devils dropped that one to the Bruins 2-0 on 12/23. i was there, scored free tickets from my brother-in-law. i also went to the Penguins game on 12/26 where the Devils fell 1-0.

well, it started out as a great week...

[Alex]

Hey TG. I am a huge devils fan and go to BU, you know if i can come watch the practice?

[JerseyJeff]

I think Pando is safe. I believe Madden, Green are being showcased. Madden was centering Parise a couple of times last night and Greene is getting PP time. Both atypical.

[C$]

TG- can you comment on the pando situation? Do you think the devils will try to move him? Will there be takers for him even though he has 2 more years on his contract at 2.5M per (i think).

[tyler]

So you were flying from Ottawa to NJ this morning and then going to travel to Boston (from NJ)?? Are there no flights from Ottawa to Boston that you could have taken???

[Kris]

Perhaps while the Devils are in Boston, Lou can talk BU's Matt Gilroy into signing here next season. If anyone's gonna try to see a practice, try the Feld Skating Area/Media entrance on the far side of Agganis. That door's usually open, it's the one the players use.

[Captain Kirk Cornholio]

Good afternoon, everyone. I just finished digging out my driveway. If you want some midday hockey, then check out the Metallurg-Zurich game.

If Pandolfo does not play tomorrow, then that will solidify his role as the odd-man out. I know I said previously that Brent should rotate spares in and out of the lineup, but if he doesn't put Pandolfo in tomorrow, then he may not play again for a long time.

Unless one of their key players sustains a season-ending injury, I wouldn't expect the Bruins to make any trades. With the best record in the Eastern Conference, why would they want to screw around with chemistry?

I would expect Clemmensen to play tomorrow. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that he also plays on Friday because of the short travel involved, but Brent should play Weekes against the Penguins.

The Devils and Bruins played to a stalemate last month. If Thomas hadn't made the "save of the year" on Elias in the second period, then the game would have ended regulation 1-1. Anyone's game tomorrow.

I see the Devils as the last team to allow reporters on a plane. Broadcasters ride the team buses in the minors to save money, but I don't think they should do that, either.

Finally, Agganis is a very nice facility. Should be a fun practice.

[TG]

I'm not sure what's going to happen with Jay. He has a no-trade clause on his contract, so, even if he agrees to waive it, he'll have some leverage there.

[Jason]

Can he be sent down to Lowell?

[Captain Kirk Cornholio]

Would he have to clear waivers before going to Lowell? If so, then some teams might think about grabbing him.

[Jason]

Yeah...and? At least we get back half his cap hit that way.

[Jason]

And why don't we hear more about Jon DiSalvatore? He seems to be hands down the best player on Lowell, and the fact that he has no NHL experience makes me very nervous about the rest of our "prospects". Any chance he gets a shot down the stretch? He has been pretty solid throughout his AHL career.

[Kristen]

Did anyone else read that Olie Kolzig is out with a ruptured distal bicep tendon? (3-4 months). Am I wrong or is this the same injury as Marty?

If so - seems odd that it was publicly said repeatedly that this is not a common injury for goalies and yet in the last year and a half we now see 3 (Weeksie, Marty and now Olie)?

Any thoughts?

[Rico Suave]

i just don't see us letting go of madden. he might have had a slow start, but he is still our top defensive forward and works wonders on the PK. He is in the process of adjusting to a different style, and ultimately we should see more production out of him as the season goes on. To me he is still a cornerstone of our team, and we do not have someone to fill his shoes as of yet.

If anything, gionta will be gone at the end of the season as we can replace him much more easily.

[mikeschoenf]

I think Pando has a No trade Clause... not a no movement clause. If we send him down he is there for the rest of the year because if we bring him back up a team can claim him and the devs and the claiming team would be responsible for half his salary. No way would lou let that happen.

[Jason]

Then just don't bring him back.

[mikeschoenf]

I want madden and gio back...(2-3 years 2.5 per for madden and 3-4 years 3 million for Gio)Zajac should get 4-5 years at 3 million per and Oduya should get a similar contract to zajac. As for Holik, Ill take him for 2.5 for next year. I would not mind finding a way for Pando to come off the books. Everybody agree with everything?

[Pat]

I wouldn't give Holik 2.5. Maybe 1-1.5 at most. Aside from grit and faceoffs, he's brought nothing to the table.

[Jason]

I could do without Madden. His best years are behind him, and it took his best buddy getting benched to get him to show up to a game. Look, those guys were a fixture for a long time, and did their thing better than anyone. But that's all gone now, and they are a couple of overpaid 4th liners. Lose them both. Gionta will probably get a good contract offer, because despite everyone hating on him, he is having a decent season. I'm all for keeping Oduya, no matter what the cost. What other options do we have really? Holik can stay, but 2.5 is high. I'd rather give it to Rupp, and let him fill in that spot as the big banger center. Aside from that, I want us to make a big offer to Mike Komaserek.

[modnarm]

Madden isn't going anywhere. Hes a huge part of this team. He is like the central cog in the machine. Without him we'd have RUPP as our 3rd line center.. and no RW to put next to him unless Shanny or Rolston is shifted. Pointless. Madden is getting the job done and is an important part of this team on the ice and in the room. I sure hope Lou doesn't trade him, hes playing really well for us.. why trade something thats only getting better?