Rolston on line with Zajac and Parise for morning skate; Looks like Holik will play tonight

The Devils' morning skate today at RBC Center is underway. The Devils take on the Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals tonight.

All players are on the ice with the exception of Jamie Langenbrunner, who is back in New Jersey nursing a lower-body injury he sustained in Game 2 against the Hurricanes on Friday.

Brian Rolston is skating this morning at in Langenbrunner's spot at right wing on the line with Zach Parise and Travis Zajac.

Bobby Holik is centering the fourth line between Mike Rupp and David Clarkson, so it looks like Holik wil make his series debut tonight after being a healthy scratch for the first two games.

The other lines remain the same -- Patrik Elias-Dainius Zubrus-Brian Gionta and Jay Pandolfo-John Madden-Brendan Shanahan.

Devils coach Brent Sutter said Saturday that he didn't want to disrupt to his lines too much, so putting Rolston with Parise and Zajac seemed like the logical move.

The defense pairing are the same.

Sutter gathered the team around him on the ice at the end of the skate for a brief talk and then sent them on their way.

I'll have comments from all the appropriate people after I get back from the locker room (11:51 a.m.).

***

It appears this will be the lineup for tonight.

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

Defensemen: Oduya-Martin; White-Mottau; Salvador-Havelid.

Goaltender: Brodeur.

Healthy scratches: D Andy Greene, D Jay Leach, LW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, C Rod Pelley.

Injured: RW Jamie Langenbrunner (lower body), G Kevin Weekes (left knee).

Comments

[Tom Gulitti and the Half-Blood Sutter.....Pearl Jammed]

i am actually mildly surprised he did not look at either Shanny, or Clarkson to fill the hole on the right side

[Tapiolevo09]

I bet one of those guys switches with Rolston if it's not working out after a period or two.

[Douglas]

We're sorry Jamie's hurt, of course, but under the circumstances, Holik is the right guy to bring in. Somebody needs to smash that ugly thug, Pitkanen's, face into the ice. Pitkanen was way out of line last game, abusing Parise and Gionta. Holik can make them pay with his hitting.

[stevo]

Sutter should try Clarkson on the line ZZ line... Clarkie wouldn't let anyone get in Parise's face

[TG]

The thing about putting Shanahan with Parise and Zajac would be the Devils would really have to watch his minutes. They'd probably have to take him off the PK and they're already down one penalty killer with Langenbrunner out.

They should used Rolston on the PK because he had always played in that role before he was injured this season, but, for some reason, Sutter has been reluctant to use him there.

Mabye Sutter will use Parise more on the PK tonight.

[JPL]

I've said this before and will say it again this team goes as Elias goes we need a big game from Patty tonight!

[YEAHw/e]

the Devs cant matchup their lines tonight. with the first line change, it'll be almost impossible and will just be too much of a thing to worry about. all lines need to be forechecking hard and the Devs need to try to go up 2-0 on these lucky candy Canes

[Tapiolevo09]

TG- If they have to worry about spreading out a lot of PK minutes tonight they will be in big trouble regardless of who is out there to attempt to kill it off.
They need to stay out of the box. They did a pretty good job of it so far, but the calls tend to go to the home teams in the playoffs.

[C.J.]

Im assuming Rolston will be moving up to the first PP but who will take his spot on the second.

[RickyM2]

Pitkanen was acting like Avery... He was even eyeballing the fans for BOTH games. So, as for tonights game, I ask that all of us here pull together and say a prayer to the all mighty Bouncing Puck Gods!!!! At this point, I can carfe less about who fills in who's spot. I have never skated with any of the guys on any of the lines. I'll just trust that Sutter has a better outlook on things than any one of us. Sutter has more on the line than anyone of us. If we have another 1'n'Dun, you can bet he wont have a long career in NJ. I dont care what Uncle Lou said before. That was just to ease the press about the new NHL fashion trend called "Poach The Coach"

[Hot Dogs]

My girlfriend is coming home from vacation tonight and her flight number is 2024. This could only mean one thing. Pandolfo and Salvador are scoring tonight. Put it in the bank!

[rob]

TG, i'm glad the defense pairing is the same, Havelid got an unlucky bounce off his skate, that's just how hockey is. But iwas hoping to give andy greene some expirence, before it's too late.

[YEAHw/e]

andy played very well at the end of the season and was one of our better defensemen in the playoffs a year or two ago. he deserves a game in my opinion

[John B]

Let's go boys... let's get it done tonight and get this baby back in our corner - the corner of Mulberry and Lafayette.

[Drew]

When, I was at the game Friday and I saw he put Elias up on that line, I knew that was a mistake and I personally thought that he should of moved up Rolston rather than Elias as by moving up Elias he disrupted two lines where Rolston would of just make the Zajac/Parise line better without taking too much away from the 4th line. I also could tell that they were in trouble at the start of OT. When we iced the puck early in the OT about 2 minutes in, I thought Sutter should of used his time-out as a wake up call, but he didn't not and about a minute later what I saw was going to happen actually did, the Canes scored. :(

[Porglast]

RE: Handful of fans at practice comment. Not sure about the playoffs, but most Hurricanes practices are open to the public. The best place to watch is when they are at their non-RBC venue, a local rink called the Rec Zone.

As for the Candy Canes comment, look at the hit count in game two. Looking up from your butt you can call us candy canes all you want.

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=17803

[SonicDude]

i dont think i'd want clarkson with zach and travis. he cant keep up.

if rolston fails, here's what i envision...

elias plays with ZZ (ZZ Belize?)
shanny w/ zubes/gio
clarkson w/ madden/pando
rolston to the press box...good riddance

we need big steps up from shanny and madden whether rolston works or not.
we need thundering checks early on, and a PP goal.
martin and oduya need to play 28 minutes.

[Jason]

The Canes came out swinging in game 2. I'd rather see our size and grit guys spread out across the lines, rather than all on 1 line. I don't think having a "4th line" is as useful as spreading out the enforcement players across all 4 lines. Clarkson, Rupp, and Holik are all competent players, any one of them could sub in on the top 3 lines.

[pando20rules]

Only 4 words can describe it...

Just get it done!

Doesn't matter if its 1-0 in 4 OT, or 7-6, they have to find the way to get a W.

[DCdevil]

so whats the o/u on the amount of stupid penalties holik takes 2nite?

[JPL]

Andy does have some Offensive upside not much but matched with our current D-men he is a Defensive Liability. Not to mention he gets man handled in our zone.

[dp]

HERE WE GO BOBBY THIS IS WHY THEY SIGNED YOU MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON THIS SERIES

[BobbyJ]

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