Elias and Havelid skate, but won't play vs. Toronto

Devils left wing Patrik Elias and defenseman Niclas Havelid both skated lightly this morning, but head coach Brent Sutter said neither will play against the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night at Prudential Center.

Elias has missed the last three games with leg muscle tightness that is believed to be a groin injury. Havelid sat out Saturday's game in Buffalo with what Sutter called "lower-body soreness."

Sutter said Elias and Havelid are both "day-to-day" and that he will dress the same lineup Tuesday as in Saturday's game.

Sutter said Elias has been improving.

"It's a situation where he needs to continue to take treatment and we need to continue to monitor his progress," he said.

Sutter said he expects that Elias will not be limited physically when he does return to the lineup. He would not speculate, however, on whether Elias would play before the end of the regular season, but said he would prefer it if he were able to get in a game or two before the playoffs.

"We'll see how he is," Sutter said. I'm not going to guess something at this stage. Would it be nice for him to play a game or two before the playoffs started? Yeah, it would, but only if he's where he needs to be."

***

The Devils said the MRI on Kevin Weekes' injured left knee came back as expected and the prognosis that he will miss two to three weeks remains the same. Weekes was injured in the second period of Friday's 5-4 overtime win over Tamap Bay.

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After saying on Saturday that he expected to start Martin Brodeur in all of the team's remaining regular season games, Sutter said today that he doesn't plan to give any of his other players a game off to rest before the start of the playoffs either. Although the Devils have won two in a row after their six-game losing streak, Sutter believes they still have work to do to improve heading into the playoffs and doesn't think resting players wiil help them do that.

"I don't want to talk about it right now, but I don't see that happening just because where we're at," Sutter said. "We had a two week break (without winning). I don't mean that to be disrespectful, but I think we've got to be very careful. A lot depends on health. A lot depends on how guys are., That's going to have a bearing on how we move forward in these three games."

Sutter said he doesn't anticipate resting players just for the sake of rest, though.

"I think we've got to be very careful with that," he said. "I don't that for sure yet...But I'm not a big fan of that becuase I think you lose from edge from that, especially when we're trying to get it back now in our game."

Comments

[frankied]

Do whatever it takes to get Elias to 100%... scratch him for the rest of the reg. season.

[TG]

It sound like Sutter wants him to play if he can before the end of the regular season.

[Jeff in Hoboken]

Like I was saying, this Elias injury is probably worse than we thought, but it is good to hear that he actually skated.

What's the deal with us getting shafted again for two non-HD broadcasts in a row?

[devsrule7]

what are the chances that clemmensen stays brodeur's backup even when weekes is healthy??

[ronmexico3]

first and foremost Patty needs to be 100% for the playoffs. I would also like to see Clemmer against the Senators on Thursday.

[Captain Fun]

TG and Devils fans,
Please stop writing that Elias has a groin injury. The other teams might find out. Use vague terms including but not limited to "total body soreness, or general malaise" etc. Thank you

[The Magic Man]

Put Havelid with the Magic Man and Oduya with Salvador...the magic man will bring Havelid's game up

[devilstown]

Total speculation, but if Elias had a groin problem, I don't think he would even be skating lightly. Could be just wishful thinking on my part?

[chessarmy]

I hope Elias gets the rest he needs before the offseason.

[frankied]

I'd like to see Clemmer get a game in, too. Now that he is up, I don't want him getting rusty like what happened to Weekes. You never know when you might need him. I know it sounds crazy, but if the Devils are struggling in the playoffs with a certain someone giving up 'bad goals' like last year against the rangers, would it hurt to give Clemmer a start?

[Henrik L]

Oduya and Salvador played together quite a bit earlier in the season. Maybe some of you have forgotten how terrinle they were together...
Would be nice to find someone that Salvador would be a good fit with...

[Captain Fun]

The post above me is perhaps the dumbest of all time

[Captain Fun]

I meant the post 2 above about not playing brodeur

[\m/ Devildriver \m/]

Don't forget, even though MB30 broke the record, he is still getting his game back. So he is starting the rest of the way. Once the playoffs start Sutter is going with his number 1 goalie EVERY game. I believe Clems will get ice time if Marty is having a bad game or the team is playing sloppy and Sutter has to shake things up.

[TG]

Sutter said the other day that he plans to start Brodeur in all of the remaining regular season games. Obviously, barring injury, he'll start all the games in the playoffs, too. So, unless something changes, we're not going to see Clemmensen in a game unless it's in a mop-up role.

[frankied]

That is why I said "I know it sounds crazy". I wasn't expecting anyone to agree with me. I was at all the playoff home games last year and had to sit there while ranger fans heckled marty. If you think Marty doesn't have some kind of problem playing against avery and the rangers, you are not seeing with your eyes.

[Captain Fun]

Frankied....I think you should do everyone a favor and check yourself into Bellview. Marty did not play well in that series but he has 4 Vezinas 3 Cups a gold medal and the all time wins record. You are suggesting starting a journeyman (at best), really an AHL goalie that had a few good months on a pretty good team. Get Real

[Captain Fun]

TG...how did Elias look? Do you think the team is being cautious or does he have a serious problem. Also when he comes back who is the center Zubrus or Rolston? Thanks

[Josh]

I agree with "frankied". First of all, if for some reason Clemmer were needed in the playoffs, I'd like to have him back up to speed of the NHL game. And beyond that, what is the point of (once again) riding Marty into the ground before the playoffs? Yes he was able to rest during his injury, but playing a bunch of games in a row without a real game off isn't going to help him any. He's already starting to let in softies reminiscent of last year's short postseason.

[Captain Fun]

Josh...wake up. Frankied said that he would consider starting Clemmenson over Brodeur if Marty has a bad game in the playoffs. That is obsurd. If you want to give him a regular season game, maybe....but a playoff game? You guys should be in straight jackets.

[Moist Ape]

Captain Fun -- Elias suffering from "general malaise" -- Funny!! Could it be a mild case of alienation and angst?

[Frankie D]

Captain Fun... you can only live off of your past for so long. Yes Marty has Veninas and Cups, but what the heck does that have to do with how he is playing at the moment???

What if Marty totally blows against the rangers and we are down 2-0 in the series. Marty is giving up softies left and right. What if Marty giving up bad goals is the reason for the Devils losing? Do you not make a change? Is it that crazy. I know Marty won't like it, but Sutter better grow a pair and bench him if he isn't playing well.

[Frankie D]

But that won't even be an option if Clemmer just rusts away on the bench for the next 2 weeks. All I'm saying is that you want to have the option of going to Clemmer if things go awry in the playoffs. If he is rusty, then you don't have that option... and you get the same result as last year.

[Captain Fun]

Frankie....I am speachless....I am without speach.