Sutter: Parise has to "play through" Chara's physical play

Zdeno Chara has had many run-ins in the past with Devils right wing Brian Gionta, but during this afternoon's game it was Zach Parise that ended up taking physical punishment from the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Bruins defenseman.

During one exchange in the right corner of the Bruins' zone during a Devils' power play early in the second period, Chara knocked Parise's helmet off with a shove.

"He crosschecked me a couple of times and took my helmet off," Parise said. "We saw a lot of each other tonight, so it got a little heated."

As the Devils' leading scorer, Parise expects that kind of physical treatment now.

"Going into the game, we knew we were going to be seeing a lot of him, our line was," Parise said. "A few times, we were able to get in there, but I think we've got to do a better job against him. We have played well against him before in the last couple of games, but tonight we couldn't get much going."

Devils coach Brent Sutter said it's up to Parise to fight through that sort of thing and not his teammates to protect him.

"Every time someone gets touched, it's a big deal because someone gets touched," Sutter said. "Your best players have to play through some things too. This time of the season and come playoffs, you're going to have to take punches to the head for the benefit of the team. Did he intimidate us? He certainly didn't intimidate us out there. He's a competitor and Zach has to learn to play through stuff too. That's part of being a good player. You've got to play through some things maybe you don't like. You have to fight through it. I'm not saying he doesn't. I'm just saying that every time someone gets hit in a game doesn't mean you have to respond or a positive or negative way either. We know how to handle that. It's not like we don't know how to handle these things."

The Devils appeared more intent on taking the game to Chara physically in the third period. Bobby Holik had a couple of exhanges with him and drew a roughing penalty.

"That's hockey," Holik said. "I enjoy it. I think we have to play against him and all of their defensemen more like that, especially at the start of the game. Make it a little harder on them. From their point of view, I think it was a very easy game against us tonight. I wish I had more of an opportunity to play against him because I believe I could make it somewhat harder for him. It's a game. It's part of the game. I just take the opporunity I get."

Devils right wing David Clarkson also exhanged shoves with Chara in the final seconds and both players picked up unsporstmanlike conduct minors.

"We were losing and I wasn't happy," Clarkson said. "Nothing really happened. He was hitting guys. I hit him back a few times and he plays hard. I was just trying to get some hits on him when I could. I guess at the end he didn't 'like that I kept hitting him. So, we kind of tied up and that was it."

***

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said he didn't think that Chuck Kobasew's wraparound goal, which made it 2-0 1:52 into the second period, went off teammate Bryce Salvador at all.

"He went on his backhand and usually when a guy comes on a wraparound it's a pretty tough play to make to wrap it around," Brodeur said. "I thought he was going to pass it across, so I kind of pressed on my knob and my stick got up a little bit. It sneaked right under my stick, I think. I didn't see the replay, but that's the way it felt."

***

Defenseman Andy Greene scored the Devils' only goal today on a deflection of a pass from Jamie Langenbrunner with 7:16 left in the second period. It was Greene's second goal of the season and first since Oct. 18 -- a span of 41 games for him.

"It had been a real long time," Greene said. "I was just trying to go to the net and be the middle guy going to the net and (Langenbrunner) made a great play to get it there and I just tried to deflect it and sneak it in somehow."

 

Comments

[Shari]

I guess the game has changed a lot, it used to be if a Player was roughed up too much during a game one of his Larger Teamates would stick up for him, I guess in todays game he has to just suck it up.

[Steve]

Parise needs a challenge from Coach Sutter, so I hope this is a start in terms of battles, I mean he's kind of been slumping lately, I mean since the goal against Phoenix he's really kind of looked lackadaisical a bit. He really needs to pick up his game going into the Playoffs, I am not criticizing him in anyway, but we need him to be playing his best hockey now and in the playoffs.

[Captain Cornholio]

The Devils left Boston a half-hour ago and should arrive in Philadelphia in a half-hour.

After today's performance, Sutter should have made them walk the whole trip.

[Captain Cornholio]

The Devils arrived in Philadelphia at 8:50.

[dp]

whats everybodys thoughts on the 2nd line? i mean i feel like zubrus should center it b/c he brings size, strength and also better defensive play. i mean with rolston centering they dont get any sustained pressure whereas with zubrus, they do and even though they havent converted recently, they still wear down the opposition.

[Pete]

Zubrus can't even play on the third line properly, keep him away from people who can do their jobs.

[Stdce]

Umm i think u dont gave a clue the second line sustained pressure alot today.... Rolstons been playing physical too

[Al (Philly Devil)]

Andy Greene better not sit when Colin is healthy. It is time for Mike "skating minor penalty, career AHL journeyman" Mottau to sit.

[AJ]

I don't think Parise has been "slumping" as of late. Sure, he hasn't been scoring goals, but the guy is still hustling in the corners and setting up teammates. I would like him to put in some goals, but he understands right now teams are collapsing on him. There's other guys open, and he's done a good job of finding those guys.

I think this was a challenge to Parise as well as to the rest of the team. There have been times this year when the Devils have just been pushed around physically. I think Sutter used this little rant to drive the point home that the Devils need to start throwing their weight around too.

[Noam N. Kogen]

If anyone should be sitting when White returns, it should not be Mottau. It should be Havelid, who hasn't distinguished himself at all. I would rather have Jay Leach in the lineup than Havelid. Is it just me or has Bryce Salvador been invisible for the last few weeks?

[JPL]

I'm not liking the way we are playing against potential playoffs matchups Carolina and then Boston today wonder what's in store with Philly tomorrow.

[TG]

Parise has an eight-game point streak (three goals, eight assists). Not exactly a slump

[Pearl Jammed]

I thought that Andy Greene looked great today, he was the one bright note, and i think that the team as a whole got frustrated after the first 2 goals, which the first was definitely flukey, and the second... well lets just say i think Marty wants that one back. The team has been getting off to quick starts lately offensivly and i think they may have looked at Boston as a team that was slumping. Just my 2 cents, but the team as a whole did not look great.

Noam K. Kogen, has a very valid point, Havelid hasn't exactly been great for this team so far, at least he isn;t having the impact i thought he would have, that maybe it is time to give him a sit. Greene has played well the last 2 games so why not let him continue to hit his stride?

MOTTAU RULES... those who think he should sit don't properly understand what they are watching/rooting for.

[Pearl Jammed]

OH and Parise Slumping..... for real? someone really went there? whats next, people being disappointed that Bobby Holik hasn't hit the 30 goal mark yet? Maybe that Colin White hasn't hit 30 fighting majors? i mean Parise... slump... just wow man.... WOW

[Zorin]

At least Jay Leach can drop the gloves (if needed). I take Mottau over Greene, who I think gets a lil too much props for being a d-man. Good, yes, but everyone paints him with this leet brush. Please, it's just Andy Greene. Mottau has 10 PIM this month (10 Games) and he's tied for 4th in +/- with a +27. He's not sitting.

Pandolfo looked awesome tonight. I wish

TG -- You think they devils would show interest in Aaron Voros for next year? I know it's a long time from now, LOL. A lot of questions of who might return, and he wouldn't cost much at all. But maybe reuniting to the NJD might do him and his game some good.

[Steve]

Greene looked good today but who could he play over if everyone is healthy? Havelid has been decent and Mottau has been solid all year. Salavador seems to be really struggling but there is no way he is sitting anytime soon. When White is ready Greene is out.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

Pearl Jammed- I've learned to filter out some of the crap people have posted on the boards. It started with everyone's line combinations.

I didn't watch the game today because I had work at three, and NBC decided that pittsburgh and philadelphia would be a more interesting game. It sounded like Zdeno the mutant had his way with us tonight. The last game on February 13 went much different. Clarkson played excellent against him; he kept the puck away from him and drew several penalties. Hate to say it, but we could have all learned a lot from him that game.

[ronmexico3]

Thank God Lou runs this team and not us. Havelid has not impressed me thus far, but Mottau is still solid, as is Salvador. By my count Salvador had one off game but is right in there when it counts.

Zubrus is getting a bad rap. As much as it kills me to say this Rolston has been out of position and slow on the second line, and they are worse off with him. Bring Madden to the second line, and I would love to see:
Parise - Zajac - Langs
Elias - Madden - Gionta
Shanahan - Zubrus - Clarkson
Holik - Rolston - Rupp

Lets Go Devils!!

[Falcone]

I thought we lacked "fight" yesterday. I don't mind losing, it happens. But I do mind losing when we don't show up and play hard. Not that what Chara did to Parise was that bad, could have been called, but he's a foot taller than Zack...that in itself isn't right. Someone should have done something to one of their players. Take them off their game. We didn't have much fight in us yesterday, hopefully that changes against Philly.

I agree with an above post, against the playoff teams we've got to play up. We've got to play much better.

However I do think Zub should go back btwn Patty and Gio. Its not a matter of how good Zub is...he's a decent player. But its about chemistry. And I think that's what has hurt our lines, rotating them up, losing that chemistry. Zub, Gio and Patty were a good line. Put em back together.

[Mike (NYC)]

Parise not in a slump...what a joke

he is to the Devils what TG is to beatwriters

[Prokat]

Al(Philly Devil)
You're a 'broken' CD. You bring nothing to this blog but the same old tired unfounded complaint about Mottau. You must be watching a different game then the rest of us.
I was at the game yesterday in Boston. The Bruins were desperate. They were saving their season plain and simple just like Al(Philly Devil).

[Prokat]

I also saw Clarkson chattering with Chara immediately after Chara took umbrage with Parise for the 5-6th time without retaliation when Parise was behind the Bruins net just after he knocked Parise's helmet off.
I was frankly shocked that Clarkson and/or Rupp didn't go at it with Chara. Chara is an anomaly for sure. He is absolutely huge on skates but sometimes you have to do what you have to do and the Devil's didn't.
That alone suprised me that no one challenged Chara or went at it with him.
I also have to say that Rooney as a referee should be back in AHAUS. He is one brutal official.

[TG]

I'm not sure why the Devils would want Voros. I guess if you were thinking about a guy for the fourth line. Still, his play dropped off significantly after the first couple of weekes of the season and it ended up that he couldn't play for the Rangers.

[JoeDevil]

ronmexico3, I've been saying for a couple of weeks Madden should center Elias and Gio but swap clarkson with Zubs.

Parise - Zajac - Langs
Elias - Madden - Gionta

Shanahan - Zubrus - Rolston
Clarkson - Holik - Rupp

Sutter, give it a shot, see how it goes.

[MoonDragn]

Actually I think they should just make Greene a forward on the 4th line... He'd be better than Pandawful.