Elias won't play tonight against Penguins

Left wing Patrik Elias won't play tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Mellon Arena because of a lower body injury, Devils coach Brent Sutter said.

"I guess he's too sore to play," Sutter said, sounding slightly irritated. "We don't want any excuses out there. Either you can play and go all out or you can't play."

Jay Pandolfo will take Elias' spot in the lineup.

Elias said it is the same muscle tightness in one of his legs that kept him out of the March 23 game in Philadelphia. He said it bothered him again during Monday's 3-0 loss to the Rangers. Although it sounds like a groin injury, Elias would not confirm that.

"I've been feeling that the last couple of days again and it's not getting much better," Elias said. "So we have to stay on top of it and hopefully I'll get myself going the next few games."

Elias practiced Tuesday, but did not participate in today's morning skate. He actually said, "I don't know yet," when asked this morning if he was going to play tonight, but apparently was just leaving it up to Sutter to give the official word.

"Just skating-wise, sometimes you don't have that speed, you don't have the strength and everything," Elias said. "And when you don't have your legs going it affects a little bit of the whole game."

Elias needs some rest to get healthy, but the Devils' doesn't really allow for that right now.

"With so many games right now and so many practices, I don't expect it to get 100 percent better," Elias said. "But I'm just trying to make progess and right now it's not (making progress)."

Elias sid he had "no idea" what caused the injury.

So, the Devils will have to try to break their five-game losing streak tonight without Elias. His absence certainly won't help their struggling offense. The Devils have scored only six goals in the last five games and were shut out by the Rangers on Monday.

"Patty is a great player, but I think we have enough depth in here that we can step up," said Brian Rolston, who move up to Elias' spot at left wing on the line with Dainius Zubrus and Brian Gionta. "We're about the team game and that's what we've got to do to be at our best tonight."

Sutter held a team meeting prior to Tuesday's practice. We'll have to wait until tonight to see if his message got through to the players.

"I think we all know what needs to be done," Sutter said this morning. "Now we've got to put it to use."

***
As I posted earlier, here are the line combinations for tonight's game.

Parise-Zajac-Langnebrunner; Roston-Zubrus-Gionta; Pandolfo-Madden-Clarkson; Shanahan-Rupp-Holik.

Sutter said he wants to use Bobby Holik at right wing and Mike Rupp as the center on that fourth line.

"I'm not saying he can't go back to center ice, but I think he's been more effective for us as a player and the way he plays on the wing than he is at center right now," Sutter said. "When you look at it overall for the team, Bobby has been at his best when he's played right wing."

The defense pairs will remain the same and Andy Greene and Jay Leach will be healthy scratches again.

Comments

[scott]

april fools?

[Kristen]

Bugger!
This leaves me with such a bad feeling..
Go Devs! Let's start playing pro-active hockey again instead of the completely reactive game that has been played for the last 5 games...

[Kristen]

LOL Scott. I just came back here to ask that. Here's hoping it's a joke from TG.

[pando20rules]

not good

[LucasS]

call someone up rather then instering stone hands into the lineup. Replacing an offensive Elias with a guy like pandolfo won't help us score more goals.

[modnarm]

OHHHHHHHHH WHAT THE FREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAK (for lack of better word). CALL UP SOMEONE FROM LOWELL!

[Tim]

Elias for Pando...yeah good trade. I'd think this was april fools if Elias hadn't sat out the flyers game.

[Rae]

Elias not in the line up = not good. I guess it's better he be out now then in the playoffs.

[bobo]

TG -- since the NHL keeps everyone guessing as to the start date of the playoffs and scheduling for the playoffs, what's your best guess as to when the Devils will host their first game of the playoffs. Thanks

[steve]

I think Shanahan belongs on the third line and Pandolfo on the fourth.

[devilstown]

No Patrik, better stay out of the box boys.

I think it might be my son's fault. He owns two jerseys, a Elias, and a Pandolfo, better reverse the order in his closet.

We won 30+ without Marty, step it up fellas. Like coach said "NO EXCUSES"!

[chessarmy]

We need to turn our game around tonight, I expect a much better Devils team that actually looks Stanley Cup worthy. Rolston should replace Elias on the second line, hopefully that will wake Rollie up a little he's been asleep for months

[Rico Suave]

no elias makes me a saaaaaaaaaaaad panda.

[chessarmy]

^ lol

As I said, this is Rolston's chance to up his game. Now that Elias is out of the line up and Rollie is the replacement he better score a goal or at least get an assist. He wasn't brought here to be a 3rd-4th liner, he needs to start scoring

[TG]

The opening playoff game will probably be Wednesday or Thursday. I'd guess Wednesday, but I don't know the building availability off the top of my head. If it is available Wednesday and Friday and the Devils open the playoffs at home, that would be my guess because I don't think they'd hold the Devils' back for a weekend NBC game.

If they were to play Montreal, then they'd probably put it as Thursday-Saturday, so they would play on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night.

[Ortugg44]

i agree with scott and kristen, i was hoping for april fools as well hehe

[Dark Prince]

Please tell me this is an april fools joke. :(

[Henrik L]

TG, do you have the Devils' record without Patrik Elias?

[DCdevil]

This sounds like it could turn into something serious if he plays under 100% again. I wouldn't play him for the remaining 6 unless he says hes absolutely sure he feels better.

[Henrik L]

I wonder if we will ever get to see Bergfors play for the Devils.. I thought he was this super talent, but he really prooved me wrong so far..and what about Rod Pelley?

[Morethanyouknow]

CALL UP BERGFORS NOW AND PLAY HIM! I love the idea that Pando is in the line-up, but Rupp??? Rupp?? Yup, he has really shown he deserves a roster spot.

[Baggy Spandex]

"TG, do you have the Devils' record without Patrik Elias?"

500-0-0 according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

[devilstown]

MTYK - Give it a rest.

[Zorin]

Not what I wanted to hear, TG. I need PE for my fantasy league. Finals here, TG...THE FINALS!

[Steve]

I don't understand Lou. Last yr prior to the deadline he had a chance to play with house money and give Vrana a 6-7 game audition. It didn't happen and our offense was terrible.

This year, we are again playing with house money in that we have a playoff spot locked. Why not bring up two young forwards from Lowell, send Leach down and see if we can catch lightning in abottle for a few games.

Holik could sit for a game since we are playing a speedy/skilled team.