Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador will not play in Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at Prudential Center.
Salvador has not played since sustaining a left knee injury in the second period of Game 4 and said after today's morning skate that he still is not "100 percent," but that might not have been relevant to head coach Brent Sutter's decision not to play him tonight. Sutter said he has been happy with the way Andy Greene has played in Salvador's place.
"I don't want to change the makeup of our six D," Sutter said after today's morning skate. "That's what it comes down to for tonight's game. Greenie's come in and has played very well the last two games. He was probably our best defenseman on the ice the other night and the other five guys have been stalwarts back there all season for us. There's no reason to have to change the makeup.
'I know we got Niclas (Havelid) at the trade deadline, but he's had a good playoff here for us, too."
Salvador admitted it is tough to miss another game.
"It's always disappointing," he said. "I'm getting closer. Hopefully after we win tonight, I'll have plenty of time to get this thing 100 percent...It's kind of one of those things where you don't want to be in a situation where you hurt yourself. It's one of those things. It's unfortunate, but what can you do about it?You've got to stay positive."
Sitting out a game in which the team's season hangs in the balance brings a particularly helpless feeling.
"It's one of those things that could have been a lot worse," Salvador said of his injury. "That's the way I look at things. It could have been an ACL or something else or a hip or a back. It's one of those things where I'm back skating. It doesn't feel great, but I'll definitely take it over what it could have been."
***
Although center John Madden did not participate in today's morning skate, he said he's fine to play. Madden rarely takes part in the morning skate when given the option no to.
"I usually never morning skate," he said. "I was given the option today and I decided to take it."
***
Devils center Bobby Holik has not skated for the last two days because of a sore back, so he was not available for tonight's game.
There will be no lineup changes from Game 6. Sutter would not say if he was considering shuffling his lines, though.
"You'll see tonight," Sutter said.
***
Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner continued to be secretive about the nature of his lower-body injury that kept him out for Game 3, 4, and 5.
"I'm back now and I'm not even concerning myself with that," he said. "You can ask me when it's all said and done and I'll tell you."
Did he make a miracle recovery?
"No, I'm not a miracle," he said.
***
The off-night cribbage match finally resulted in a winner Monday night at the team hotel. Langenbrunner said to ask Zach Parise the results. Parise admitted he and Travis Zajac were edged by Langenbrunner and Jay Pandolfo, six games to five, in their doubles match.
"We lost by one game," Parise said. "We played for a long time and lost by one game."
wow. The coach hath spoken. Maybe the Devils should get Bouwmeester???? it would be MONEY WELL SPENT!!!! what a novel idea!
Posted by: modnarm | April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Define "good" Brent...
Posted by: Pete | April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Good call on Greenie.
Posted by: BrotherPucker | April 28, 2009 at 11:40 AM
I like the statement, "You'll see tonight." Maybe he is going to finally try something different.
Posted by: Matt | April 28, 2009 at 11:41 AM
It's a tough call. If you do make a change and lose, people will say, why did you mess with the lines? If you don't change and lose, it's "why did you mess with the lines?" Hard call to make.
Posted by: MattP | April 28, 2009 at 11:44 AM
I'm glad Brent is keeping some secrecy, the element of surprise is always good, we don't want to give Carolina the chance to make any adjustments.
Posted by: Scratch-?- | April 28, 2009 at 11:45 AM
I would like to see a few shifts of Parise, Elias and Gionta. Everyone seems to forget this combo was unstoppable for a period of time last season.
Posted by: JPL | April 28, 2009 at 11:47 AM
I like Bryce's statement even more...like a victory tonight is a foregone conclusion..."I'm getting closer....after we win tonight, I'll have plenty of time to get this thing 100 percent..." So he is either clairvoyant or is just very optimistic. I hope the rest of the guys in that locker room take that same attitude. Maybe they'll actually look like they care tonight as opposed to the debacle a few nights ago...
Posted by: Mikey | April 28, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Totally unrelated, but Barry Melrose just said on ESPN that Carolina has outplayed us the entire series....I'm pretty sure that means he hasn't been watching. Granted Melrose has as much credibility as Jim Balsillie...
Posted by: Pete | April 28, 2009 at 11:52 AM
gotta agree with MattP. This could be good.. or it could screw us in a SEASON DECIDING GAME 7. Welp.. either epic failure, or triumphant victory. oi.
Posted by: modnarm | April 28, 2009 at 11:52 AM
The bench in Carolina must be really hard...I mean to give Holik a backache and all
Posted by: Scratch-?- | April 28, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Eff Melrose, that guy is a tool
Posted by: Scratch-?- | April 28, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Carolina has outplayed us severly in games 4 and 6, we severly outplayed them in game 1, and the other three in my opinion are debatable.
Posted by: pando20rules | April 28, 2009 at 11:53 AM
There is a reason to love Salvador! I have had my share of being silly and saying we're screwed but we need to be behind them tonight!
Posted by: Ortugg44 | April 28, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Yea, make a change and win and Brent looks like a genius. Make a change and lose and there will be questions all summer. Let's hope for the former.
Posted by: MattP | April 28, 2009 at 11:55 AM
pls don't end your post with that quote TG... it's freaking me out!
Posted by: Tull | April 28, 2009 at 11:57 AM
we need much more game 7 2000 ECF Patty Elias tonight then the game 6 2009 EQF we had.... hopefully that groin injury won't hold him back tonight.... if he is flying and playing with an edge like he did game 1 (he was hitting people all over the ice and creating opportunities for him and his teammates) then there is no way we can lose.
As Patty goes, the Devils follow suit. It's been that way for years now.....
Obviously, Marty game 5 mode wouldn't hurt matters either....
Posted by: pando20rules | April 28, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Melrose is one of those people you wanna see punched in the face. Considering he only kept a coaching job 5 days, I just don't give a rat what he says. I don't even know why he has a job.
Posted by: Matt | April 28, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Pete,
Barry 'Mr 80's' Melrose has '0' credibility but in this instance he's partially right.
Game 6 was a beat down by the 'Canes and if we don't make a concerted effort to put offensive pressure on Ward and score in the first 10 minutes tonight...well I don't even want to think about it.
The boys had better get some Preparation 'H' for hockey in their minds as we don't want to go one and done again.
It would be embarrassment after the great regular season we had and knowing that Marty was hopefully rested to meet the challenge of the playoffs.
Posted by: Prokat | April 28, 2009 at 12:04 PM
yeh carolina dominated us 1-4 in game 1. Melrose is pathetic...
Posted by: HF | April 28, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Yea apparently he didn't see game one.
Posted by: Matt | April 28, 2009 at 12:25 PM
I don't think Sutter will change anything up unless we start to fall apart early on.
Let's Go Devils!
Posted by: Jeff in Hoboken | April 28, 2009 at 12:28 PM
NY Post is saying Langenbrunner had athroscopic knee surgery after game 2.
Posted by: frankied | April 28, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Link to the NY Post story: http://is.gd/v9gK
Now I'm no doctor, but WTF??
Posted by: Jeff in Hoboken | April 28, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I like his "you'll see tonight" comment. Thats what OV said after losing 2 games at home. That night, he smoked Rangers!!!!!!! I like this chess game!! I'm super psyched
Posted by: rickym2 | April 28, 2009 at 01:04 PM