As expected, the Devils have called up goaltender Scott Clemmensen from Lowell of the AHL to serve as their back-up in tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena.
Clemmensen, who played in Lowell Friday night, has not arrived in Buffalo yet, but is expected to be here in time for the game. Clemmensen will miss the Scott Clemmensen Bobblehead giveaway tonight in Lowell, though. (The Lowell Devils are playing Springfield.)
The Devils had to call up a goaltender after Kevin Weekes injured his left knee 57 seconds into the second period of Friday's 5-4 overtime win over Tampa Bay.
In 40 games with the Devils earlier this season while Martin Brodeur was injured, Clemmensen went 25-13-1 with a. 2.39 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Because he was on emergency recall, he had to be sent back down to Lowell on Feb. 25 when Brodeur was activated from injured reserve.
His teammates still voted him the team's "Unsung Hero" and he is also the New Jersey chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association's nominee for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
***
Defensemen Andy Greene and Jay Leach, who were healthy scratches again Friday, are the only players skating this morning. I'll get comments from Clemmensen and head coach Brent Sutter and, hopefully, an update on Weekes' injury later.
Left wing Patrik Elias won't play again tonight because of leg muscle tightness.
But it's Scott Clemmensen bobblehead night in Lowell tonight!
Posted by: freelancer | April 04, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Welcome back Clemmer. Get well soon, Weekes!
Posted by: Mike | April 04, 2009 at 10:58 AM
TG, check with Clemmer if he snuck any of the bobleheads in his suitcase. Maybe he can toss them out at warmups on Tuesday! lol
Posted by: BF | April 04, 2009 at 11:02 AM
First and foremost, all the best to Kevin Weekes. You are a great team player and a class individual, and as I told you at the awards luncheon, the attentive fans are aware and very appreciative for all you do for this team and organization! Secondly, blog members please don't go off the deep end here, Clemmensen did a great job this year when he was up, but he is not going to play more than 1 game the rest of this season and playoffs. SO please wrap your mind and support around the team that is here for the run, and that especially means #30.
Posted by: devilstown | April 04, 2009 at 11:02 AM
YAYAYA CLEMMERS BACK!!!!!
Posted by: SS | April 04, 2009 at 11:04 AM
You think Clem calls off the voodoo curse he unleashed on us when we sent him back to lowell?
Posted by: Tim | April 04, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Clemmer is goooood karma...
Posted by: Per | April 04, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Any truth to the rumor Clemmer was just spotted westbound on the NY Thruway near Albany, driving a U-Haul van full of cases of Bobbleheads??
Posted by: JerryG | April 04, 2009 at 11:32 AM
TG, is the team down playing Patty's leg? Could it be his groin? Do you think he'll play in another regular season game? Thanks very much.
Posted by: Mark R | April 04, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Elias looked perfectly fine at the awards ceremony last night, no limp or anything.
Posted by: Sohl | April 04, 2009 at 11:52 AM
@ Major Cornhole--
What's the ETA on Clemmer and has he cleared security? Also what color is his underware today? Thanks in advance.
Posted by: bobo | April 04, 2009 at 11:53 AM
It is possible it's his groin. He wouldn't say when we asked him that Wednesday in Pittsburgh. But the way he describled it as not having as much strength in his legs, sounds like a groin.
Posted by: TG | April 04, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Haha oops, not awards ceremony, the ceremony for Broduer last night is what i meant
Posted by: Sohl | April 04, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Hey, I just saw on TV that the Lowell Devils (fans, obviously) just won their second consecutive human dog-sled championship!! They all had Lowell Devils tee shirts on and were "bubba" fans.
Way to go, DEVILS!!
Posted by: Nieds27 | April 04, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Assuming he has a groin injury, im praying its not serious. If hes not full strength for the playoffs you can kiss the cup goodbye.
Posted by: DCdevil | April 04, 2009 at 12:10 PM
It'll be nice to see Clemmer at The Rock. When he went back to Lowell it was very sudden. Poof he was gone. I'm sure us fans want to let him hear how much we appreciate the way he saved the season. He'll get his ovation and I think the fans will feel better getting a big THANK YOU out there that we didn't have a chance to give when Marty came back. Add in the way he had to be sent back to Lowell and Lou didn't find a good deal to trade him to start somewhere else in the NHL. Scotty's a trooper and his efforts are not un-noticed.
Posted by: \m/ Devildriver \m/ | April 04, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Hey TG, would you say that Clemmenson would get the start in Toronto, I know you wrote that Brent Sutter told him to pick a day to sit this weekend, and that didnt end up happening. The reason I ask is I am going to my first ever NHL game on Thursday, Ottawa vs. New Jersey, and not that I don't respect Clemmenson, but I really want to see Brodeur play. I also know Sutter is very tight lipped about this...
Posted by: Kyle | April 04, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Sutter told Brodeur i mean.
Posted by: Kyle | April 04, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Clemmensen on the bench is the change i think our devils need. Suttle yet loud. It will do wonders...and im glad we didnt have to wait for Lowell to get eleminated from playoff contention to get scottie up. Im happy as a pig in Shhhhhhhhhh right now...........with all do respect to weeksie of course.
Posted by: JJ | April 04, 2009 at 01:22 PM
what do u think TG
Posted by: JJ | April 04, 2009 at 01:34 PM
I think the only way that Clemmensen starts is if the Devils are locked into a spot and can't move up or down. If that happens before Thursday in Ottawa, he might play that night. Otherwise, I think they'll play Brodeur in every game. They'll want to win that last game of the season against Carolina because they haven't beaten the Canes this season and that will be their last game against a playoff team. The next three are against non playoff teams (Buffalo still has a slim chance, but they're not in right now.
The Devils have lost their last seven games against teams holding playoff spots.
As for Clemmensen, I think the players appreciate what he did and feel bad that he was sent down when Brodeur got healthy. I think they'll be happy to see him back, too. I don't think him being on the bench as the backup does anything for the psyche of the team, though.
Weekes is very well liked by his teammates. Having him or Clemmensen on the bench makes no difference.
Posted by: TG | April 04, 2009 at 02:23 PM
TG any news on Weekes' condition yet? Today is his birthday too, hope he gets good news about his knee. I know everyone is excited to have Clemmer back, but I for one will miss KW, he's a real team player, humble, gracious and supportive of his teammates. Happy birthday Kevin!
Posted by: Scratch16 | April 04, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Yes, I second that Scratch. To put it as Lou might; He's a quality individual and an outstanding team player. -- He seems to be the kind of person Lou would bring back to the organization in some capacity after he retires, if he leaves at all, FA etc..
Best Wishes Weeksie, Happy Birthday
Posted by: Craigwell | April 04, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Brodeur sucked last night
Posted by: Devs | April 04, 2009 at 02:46 PM
No word on Weekes, yet. Hopefully, there will be some news when I get to the arena later, but I have a feeling they won't tell us anything for a couple of days. They'll probably say they need to wait a few days for the swelling to go down before they can tell anything for sure.
Posted by: TG | April 04, 2009 at 02:46 PM