Fire & Ice

Pikkarainen placed on IR to start season; will be in NJ when healthy; No need to place Elias on LTIR

The Devils placed right wing Ilkka Pikkarainen on injured reserve today to get down to the 23-man roster limit before the 3 p.m. NHL deadline.

Pikkarainen had the stomach flu last week and missed the last four preseason games. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said the move is retroactive until Sept, 16 when Pikkarainen played in the preseason game against the Rangers. That means he is eligible to be activated to play whenever he's ready and not have to wait seven days. A player would have to be sent down to activate Pikkarainen.

Lamoriello said that Pikkarainen will "absolutely" be on the NHL team when he is healthy enough to come off injured reserve.

"We could have put him or Jay [Pandolfo] on IR because Jay is still coming back," Lamoriello said. "It's retroactive, so we'll see where he's at."

The Devils have not been specific about Pandolfo's injury, but he appeared to be testing his leg when he initially took the ice for Monday's practice.

"It's just soreness," Lamoriello said. "He got hit, but he's fine. He's going to practice [Thursday] and we'll see how he is."

When I asked Lamoriello if Pandolfo was injured in the game in Philadelphia on Thursday or during the morning skate on Saturday [he was supposed to play Saturday night], he said, "it was a combination of both."

The move buys the Devils a little time before sending someone down.

"Yes, but it's really that he's not able to play, so we had better keep the players here," Lamoriello said. "We still play Saturday [vs. Philadelphia] and Monday [vs. Rangers]."

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Leach, Davison, Sestito assigned to Lowell

Defensemen Jay Leach and Rob Davison and center Tim Sestito all cleared waivers and were assigned to Lowell of the AHL today.

Davison and Sestito are both on two-way contracts with AHL salaries of less than $105,000, so the Devils will be able to call them up without putting them through re-entry waivers.

Leach's AHL salary is more than $105,000, so he would have to go through re-entry waivers to be called back up. That makes it unlikely that he will play in the NHL this season.

Niedermayer shakes off rust; Bergfors gets the point; ZZ Pops busts out

Newest Devil Rob Niedermayer said he felt "not bad" in getting in his first -- and only -- preseason game with the team tonight against the Islanders.

He played 22 shifts for 16:29 of ice time and went 8-6 on faceoffs. He did take a high-sticking penalty in the second period that led to Mark Streit's 5-on-3 goal, though.

"It's nice to get the first one under you belt and sort of feel comfortable and play against an opponent," he said.

Niedermayer centered a line tonight with Brian Rolston on his left wing and David Clarkson on his right. He said getting used to new linemates wasn't the hardest part of his evening.

"Playing with Clarkie and Rollie, they're both great players and they make the game pretty easy," Niedermayer said. "The hardest thing is sort of battling along the boards and that sort of stuff."

Niedermayer said his legs felt "not bad in the second and felt better in the third."

Was it enough to get ready for the season opener on Saturday?

"Yeah, I'm going to have a few more practices this week," he said.

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Peters has no respect for Rechlicz actions

Devils enforcer Andrew Peters tried to be diplomatic, but could not hide his displeasure with Islanders tough guiy Joel Rechlicz after tonight's game.

"He's trying to make a name for himself," Peter said after he fought Rechlicz twice in the Devils' 4-2 preseason victory over the Isles tonight (Rechlicz also fought Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond). "There's a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. I understand that you want to go out and you want to fight. To do what he did at the end of the game there, someone will get hurt. It doesn't help your team."

The second fight came with 6:27 left in the game. Everything started with a hit by Devils defenseman delivered to Islanders No. 1 pick John Tavares in the left corner of the New Jersey end in the first minute of the third period. White knocked Tavares down, but it appeared to be a clean hit.

"There's hitting in the game, last I knew," White said afterward.

Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton went and gave White a shot in the back shortly after that, but nothing else happened immediately.

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Lemaire still not completely satisfied with Devils' play

After watching his team wrap up the preseason with a 4-2 win over the Islanders tonight, you would think that Devils coach Jacques Lemaire would be pleased.

The Devils finished the preseason with a 4-0-1 record and got good production from their top line of Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Jamie Langenbrunner, which scored two goals, including Zajac's game-winner in the second.

Still, Lemaire didn't see the consistency he wants his team to play with when it opens the regular season Saturday night against the Flyers at Prudential Center.

"Highs and lows, [that's] how we played," Lemaire said. "Two good shifts. Two bad shifts. One good shift. One bad shift. The thing that is happening is we don't have five guys working together. That's why we don't have consistency in our game."

Lemaire's displeasure was somewhat understandable. The Devils were outshot 8-3 in the third period after taking a 3-2 lead in the second. They did add to their lead in the third with Brendan Shanahan's goal, but Lemaire felt they spent too much time in the defensive zone, particularly his top three lines. He credited the fourth line of Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Rod Pelley and Andrew Peters for playing more in the offensive zone.

The Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner busted out with two goals after not producing the previous two games, but Lemaire was left wanting more from them as well.

"They moved the puck two good shifts, three good shifts, two bad ones," Lemaire said. "But I could see that when they moved the puck and they worked together, you see the difference right away. They're really dangerous. But they have to give this all the time and they've got to get support from the defensemen."

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Live post: Devils defeat Islanders 4-2

The Devils defeated the Islanders 4-2 in tonight's preseason game at Prudential Center.

The Devils finish the preseason with a 4-0-1 record.

Travis Zajac snapped a 2-2 tie with 2:01 left in the second period by taking a feed from Zach Parise behind the net and whipping a one-timer from the right circle inside the left post.

Brendan Shahanan made it 4-2 by scoring on one-timer from the left circle at 12:03 of the third. Rookie Niclas Bergfors assisted, giving him one goal, four assists in the preseason.

The Islanders held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 on power-play goals from Jack Hillen and Mark Streit (5-on-3).

Hillen took a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that went through Sean Bergenheim's screen in front and beat Martin Brodeur between the pads for a power-play goal 1:12 into the second period.

Parise tied it at 5:33 by swatting a Jamie Langenbrunner rebound between Dwayne Roloson's pads at 5:33.

But Steit scored on two-man advantage at 10:18. With Johnny Oduya off for crosschecking and Rob Niedermayer off for high sticking, Streit beat Martin Brodeur to the stick side with a slap shot from the right point.

Brian Rolston tied it again with a power-play goal at 14:21. Rolston went around defenseman Radek Martinek in the left circle and beat Roloson between the pads.

The Devils held a 17-13 advantage in shots on goal after two periods.

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Lemaire says "other moves" will be made; Halischuk's given No. 16

Interesting item from tonight's pre-game media notes. Right wing Matt Halischuk's number has been changed from 63 to 16.

Devils coach Jacques Lemaire claimed to be unaware of the change. In the past, such a number change signifies that a player has made the team, but the Devils still have one more cut to make to get down to the 23-man limit by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

"We're getting there," Lemaire said this afternoon. "I think the next decision will be made in the next couple of days."

Lemaire did say Halischuk would dress for warm-ups tonight, but had not decided yet whether we will play in the preseason finale against the Islanders at Prudential Center. The Devils will dress 13 forwards for warm-ups.

Today's moves to place defensemen Jay Leach and Rob Davison on waivers seemed to indicate that both Andy Greene and Cory Murphy have made the team. Lemaire wasn't willing to commit to that, though.

"They'll be here until other moves," Lemaire said. "We don't know when."

The Devils will have to make "other moves" when they activate left wing Patrik Elias (groin surgery) and defenseman Mark Fraser (probable head injury), but Lemaire seemed to suggest that general manager Lou Lamoriello might do more than that. Options include a waiver pickup today or a trade.

"I think Lou is looking at all the avenues," Lemaire said. "Who can play? Who's the best? Who are you going to send down? Who could be picked up? All of that. That's why a decision will be made, like many other teams, at the last minute."

I had speculated earlier that Halischuk would be the most likely to be cut because he does not need to clear waivers to be sent down. The number change seems to indicate he might be staying.

We'll have to wait until Wednesday.

If the Devils were looking at a waiver pick-up, here are the players that were placed on waivers today.

ATLANTA: D Nathan Oystrick; COLUMBUS:  D David Liffiton, LW Alexandre Picard, D Mathieu Roy; EDMONTON: LW Liam Reddox;  FLORIDA: C Jeff Taffe; NASHVILLE: C Cal O'Reilly; ISLANDERS: C Greg Moore; PHOENIX: C Ryan Hollweg; PITTSBURGH: LW Ryan Bayda; D Paul Bissonnette, D Deryk Engelland; D Nate Guenin; RW Chris Conner; TAMPA: D Matt Lashoff. D Mike Lundin; TORONTO: G Joey
MacDonald; VANCOUVER: D Michael Funk, D Brad Lukowich; D Lawrence Nycholat; WASHINGTON: LW Chris Bourque .

***

What is Lemaire looking for from Rob Niedermayer tonight in his first preseason game with the team after signing a one-year, $1 million deal on Friday?

"Just a solid game," Lemaire said. "The type of game he's been playing all of his career, that's what I'm looking for. To learn the system, learn what we want, try to do it, play solid everywhere on the ice. But mainly to learn how we want to play the game because it's a little different, just a little,"

Lemaire believes Niedermayer will be able to take a regular shift tonight.

"Instead of 40-45 seconds [per shift], he's just got to go 30," Lemaire said. "He'll be fine."

Devils place Leach, Davison and Sestito on waivers; Elias and Fraser on IR

The Devils announced today that they have placed defensemen Jay Leach and Rob Davison and center Tim Sestito on waiver.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said that if all three clear waivers, they will be assigned to the team's AHL affiliate in Lowell, Mass.

In addition, the Devils have placed left wing/center Patrik Elias and defenseman Mark Fraser on injured reserve.

Elias is recovering from groin surgery on Sept. 15. He has been working out, but has yet to begin skating. Lamoriello said that Elias will not be placed on long-term injured reserve.

Fraser suffered an apparent head injury in a fight with Philadelphia's Daniel Carcillo a week ago. Lamoriello would not answer directly when I asked if Fraser has a head injury.

"He was here this morning," Lamoriello said. "He's still going to be out for a little while, not long."

Lamoriello confirmed the team will have to make one more cut -- after Leach, Davison and Sestito are either claimed by another team or sent to Lowell -- to get down to 23 players.

Today's,moves indicate that both Andy Greene and Cory Murphy will make the team. The deletion of Leach and Davison, leaves the team with seven defensemen. When he is healthy enough, Fraser would have to clear waivers to be sent down, but the team cannot place him on waivers right now because he is injured.

Also, it locks up the fourth-line center job for Rod Pelley-- barring any acquisitions before the start of the season.

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Rob Niedermayer ready for his first preseason game with the Devils

Rob Niedermayer has played in plenty of preseason games during his 15-season NHL career.

The 34-year-old center ackowledged that playing in tonight's game against the Islanders will be a little different, however, because it will be his first with the Devils after signing with the team on Friday. It will also be a big test for his conditioning because, though he had been skating with a junior team before he signed, he has had only one NHL training camp practice.

"It's your first game with a new team and it will be kind of nice to see where I'm at and see what I have to do," he said.

Whether Niedermayer is in good enough condition to take regular shifts throughout the game or will have to be spotted here and there remains to be seen.

"I think we'll find it out," he said. "I'm just pretty excited about playing the first one." 

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***

For the complete lineup for tonight's game, see the post below.

Mottau to play tonight vs, Islanders; Greene, Leach to sit

Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said Monday that defenseman Mike Mottau was not ready to play in tonight's preseason finale vs, the Islanders after missing Saturday's game against Philadelphia with an upper body injury.

But Mottau, who was injured in last Thursday's game in Philadelphia, said after today's morning skate that he will be in the lineup tonight against the Islanders.

Mottau said he was feeling good and was happy to get in one more game before the regular season begins Saturday.

"You can always work on things," Mottau said. "Tonight is the final preseason game before the regular starts. You want to be sharp in your decision-making and your execution. Hopefully, that falls into place tonight."

Defensemen Andy Greene and Jay Leach, who also took part in the skate today, will not play.

Greene wasn't reading anything into the decision to sit him tonight or that he played in only two of the team's five preseason games.

"I don't know," Greene said. "It's something I can't worry about. I've just got to come here and prepare every day like I'm playing."

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