White skates, but won't play tonight; Clemmensen to start again

Defenseman Colin White skated on his own this morning, but won't play again in tonight's game against the Montreal Canadiens because of an upper body injury.

White gave no details about the nature of his injury other than to say that he sustained it during the 4-2 win over the Rangers last Saturday.

"It doesn't seem to be anything major," he said. "I don't want it to drag on for long. I hope to get back as soon as possible."

This was the first time White was on the ice since that game.

"I skated this morning, so I'm feeling better and making progress," White said.

Devils coach Brent Sutter said he was not expecting White to be ready for tonight's game.

"He hadn't skated since the last game he played in New York on the 27th," Sutter said. "That's four, five days without even being on the ice. Even if he was close to being capable of playing, he's going to need a practice or two under him."

Neither Sutter nor White was sure if he would practice with the team on Saturday or if he would be ready for Sunday's home game against Ottawa.

"I don't know," Sutter said. "It's still a day-to-day thing."

White said that going with the team on its trip to St. Louis and Dallas would not have been worthwhile for him.

"I was sore and I knew I wasn't going to play in those two games," he said.

White remained in New Jersey and received treatment while the team was away. His voice is still hoarse, but that is unrelated to his injury.

"It's been about three weeks," he said. "I don't know what's going on there."

***

Everyone else is on the ice for the skate. The line combinations appear to be the same.

Scott Clemmensen will start his 10th consecutive game in net for the Devils. Jaroslav Halak will start for Montreal.

The Canadiens are pretty banged up. Goaltender Carey Price (lower body), Alex Tanguay (shoulder), Saku Koivu (foot), Christopher Higgins (shoulder), Georges Laraque (groin) and  Mathieu Dandenault (forearm) are all expected to miss tonight's game.

***

The Devils' expected line combinations and defense pairings for tonight (based on the skate).

Forwards: Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner; Elias-Zubrus-Gionta; Rolston-Holik-Clarkson; Pandolfo-Madden-Rupp.

Defensemen: Oduya-Martin; Salvador-Mottau; Greene-Leach.

Goaltender: Clemmensen.

Comments

[Bobby]

TG,

Does it seem to be one of those things where if White had to play, he could (i.e. playoff)?

[jdr30]

Whats up with Weekes? The guy has to play ...

[HBK27]

TG - Any thoughts on who will be the odd man out once White does return? Smart money is probably on Leach, though could also be Greene or Mottau. Or does Sutter maybe rotate a couple of guys in & out of the lineup? Seems like he likes to stick with one lineup though vs. rotating guys like he did last season.

I wouldn't mind seeing Mottau sit for a game or two, since I think he's been struggling a little bit - maybe give him a bit of a wakeup call like Rupp had after sitting for a few games (though I think that had more to do with Rupp not playing the type of game Sutter demanded).

[Maxwell]

Good news that tanguay and price are out tonight. The devs can't take this one off, though. Every game versus an eastern conference team is SOOO big.

I have a bad feeling about tonight's game, involving a stationary bike ride...

Keep it up boys!

[HBK27]

jdr30 - I disagree that Weekes has to play. You go with whoever gives you the best chance to win & right now that is clearly Clemmer. I'd only sit him if Sutter thinks that Weekes would give them a better chance to win that night or if a night off would benefit Clemmer down the line. You don't play the backup to try to keep him fresh or because he's a nice guy...you play him when your #1 needs a rest. Given that Marty could be back as early as February, Sutter might as well just keep riding Clemmer for the next 6-8 weeks as he'll get plenty of rest once Marty returns (though I'm sure Marty won't resume his normal workload...at least initially).

I'm guessing Weekes will see no more than 2 games before Brodeur is back - maybe at LA on the 10th (1st night of back-to-back games & part of a stretch of 7 games in 12 nights) & maybe vs. ATL or LA on the 6th & 7th of March (since those back-to-back games start a 2 week stretch where the Devils play every other night). Beyond that, maybe he gets in one of the games vs. CBJ & NYI on the 16th & 17th of January, but I'd be highly surprised if he got into 3 games before Marty returns.

[HBK27]

D'oh...meant the 6th & 7th of February in the above post.

[JJ]

As to who sits/plays when Whitey's ready I would imagine it'll be a game to game thing and Sutter will rotate in the 7th man depending on a combination of injuries (duh), matchups, how well guys are playing overall, who they pair well with and how long the 7th man has been sitting.

The top 4 should obviously be Sal/Martin & White/Oduya (Sutter's plan all along from training camp), with the other three guys competing for time. I'd like to see him give Leach/Greene a look. Their styles complement each other and Greene has earned a regular spot. Mottau/Greene leaves us without that critical physical presence on the third pairing but those two looked good together early in the season. Decisions decisions.

[Tom Gulitti]

Sutter just said that Greene was the Devils' best player in Dallas other than Clemmensen. That might suggest he won't come out when White is healthy.

[JJ]

Can't argue with that assessment. Greene has definitely played very well since his return. I gotta eat some crow on that as I wasn't much of a believer in Greene but he's been pretty darn impressive. TG any idea if he's put on some muscle since last year? He seems a lot stronger along the boards from what I remember in the past.

[DH]

I'm driving to the game tonight and I want to park next to the Rock. Can anyone give me an idea of how much I'm going to pay for the privilege.

[Jason]

You are honestly better off parking in Jersey City (Grove St. station area) and taking the PATH. Cheaper and easier.

[Dan G.]

DH: $25 - $30

[embo slice]

its $15 where i usually park....and don't forget it's more if your going to see hannah montana

[kstatik]

Ah! TG's back - all is right in the world... how was your New Year's hangover Tom? ;)

I, for one, am (morbidly) happy to hear that Tanguay is sitting for tonight's game. We
need all the help we can get if the 'D' is going to be as shoddy as they were against
Dallas without Whitey. I'm still kind of happy that White is playing so solidly this
season. He's certainly managed to shut-up the detractors who wanted him packaged to
_________ (insert shitty team here) for a bag of practice pucks.

[HBK27]

Good to hear those comments about Greene - I'm really glad to see him bounce back as strongly as he has this season.

For DH - I usually just park in the lot on Market Street between Mulberry & 21. Short walk to the arena & it costs $20. There's probably cheaper parking elsewhere, but that lot is easy to get in & out of.

[DH]

Thanks for the info everyone.

[happyfam]

I really hope White is the odd man out because the reality is he is just an average defenseman. Stands around and watches as an opposing player is alone in front and either scores the tying or go ahead goal. He is not the only one that does this but he does it the most and one of these games he will cost us a huge game.

LET WEEKS PLAY!!!!

[Phil.happyhour]

Park on the street. You can usually find a spot on Market if you get there around 6 or 615.

[Speedz]

Thers a smugdge on the camera on msg plus broadcast.

[Speedz]

Thats pretty weak what that candien did to Zach.