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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Greene admitted he would have liked to play in more games.

"You want to play every game," he said. "It's exciting to play and you always have fun playing, so, obviously, I want to be playing, but I've just got to stay ready."

Lemaire was in a meeting this morning and did not speak to the media, but judging by the players who skated and who stayed on for more work, this looks like it will be the lineup for tonight.

Forwards: Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner; Brian Rolston-Dainius Zubrus-David Clarkson; Brendan Shanahan-Rob Niedermayer-Niclas Bergfors; Andrew Peters-Rod Pelley-PLL Leblond.

Defensemen: Colin White, Mike Mottau, Paul Martin, Johnny Oduya, Bryce Salvador, Cory Murphy.

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur (full game), Yann Danis (backup).

***

Left wing Jay Pandolfo, center Tim Sestito, right wing Ilkka Pikkarainen and defenseman Rob Davison skated after the optional morning skate was over. None of them will play tonight.

Rookie right wing Matt Halischuk did take part in the optional skate, but remained on the ice for extra work with Leach, Greene and Danis -- an indication he probably won't play tonight.

Although Halischuk has made it this far in training camp, he knows final cuts will be coming soon.

"I'm trying not to think about it and I'm coming to the rink and want to do well and work hard and try to worry about what's going on and stuff like that," he said.

Last year, Halischuk had a groin injury in training camp, which kept him from getting in any preseason games. This year, he's played in three preseason games and scored a goal last Thursday in Philadelphia.

"I think it's been a good camp and I'm just trying to build on it," he said.

Comments

[mikeschoenf]

OK so if this is our Lineup who will be the extra's that make the team?
Pikkachu, Leach
Do we have room for any others?

[devils95]

Sweet. See you there Tom

[Martysbetter86]

Yea I guess Pikkawhatever would be an extra until Elias comes back. I didn't really expect the Devils to have a problem with cutting players, but obviously they will.

[mikeschoenf]

So when we have Patty back do we still have Pakkachu and Leach as our extra's? PLLLLLL will be down in Lowell. How many extra players can we hold?

[mikeschoenf]

I forgot about Pando, Sesito and hallishuk.

[Anthony]

I would love to see these lines when Elias returns:

1. Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner
2. Patrik Elias-Rob Niedermayer-Niclas Bergfors
2a. Brian Rolston-Dainius Zubrus-David Clarkson
4. Jay Pandolfo-Rod Pelley-Brendan Shanahan

[DevilsNorth]

Thats a forth line that will produce!

[Mark]

Pando has played in 0 pre-season games, Greene only in 2. Sestito is stillhere despite adding Neids. I think all of these are because of potential waiver impact.

Pikkarainan played in only 1 and I can't see how that is such a good gauge for a guy who played in Europe the past few years.

I think P3L goes to Lowell but I'm not sure about Halischuk although it wouldn't suprise me. I think he has good hockey sense and the puck seems to find him but I also think he needs to add some strength. Getting ice time at Lowell and then waiting on a call up for 12-15 games this year would do good things for him.

Now, if we could deal Pando and Greene for a prospect and a pick I'd be happy to have Murphy and Halischuk on the squad.

[mikeP]

I really think that Elias will be tried at center when he returns, especially if Pelley struggled at the beginning:

ZZ Pops
Rolston-Elias-Clarkson
Shanahan-Zubrus-Bergfors
Pandolfo-Niedermayer-Peters/PikkaChu

[.B.C.]

Can Zubrus play wing? Or is he only a center? I think a Zubrus/Niedermayer/Clarkson line would destroy.

[NeilS]

The 3rd/4th line is where you have the most room to move pieces around. If Shanahan needs a break Pando can play there, when you're playing weaker teams that aren't going to try and push the Devils around, Pandolfo can play on the 4th line or get a rest when he needs it. It's not a bad situation necessarily. I wouldn't mess with the first two lines but the bottom two has room to mix and match and move guys around to put the right lineup out depending on who they're playing and how Shanny is feeling.

[TG]

Pandolfo played in Philadelphia on Thursday and was supposed to play on Saturday, but was a late scrach becaue he was "sore" -- likely some kind of leg injury. He'll be on the team. He's not going anywhere.

Pikkarainen played in the first preseason game and then got sick, so that kept him out of the last three games and probably tonight's too. He's still kind of recovering now.

So, you can't really gauge anything from how many games Pandolfo and Pikkarainen played.

Waivers is probably a factor with other guys though -- Davison, Sesito

[Rick C.]

Yeah, I was at the game in Philadelphia (got cursed out by Phlyers fans while exiting because I was wearing my Daneyko jersey). Pandolfo definitely played, Mark.

[Guy]

Seems to me Pando's spot is better utilized with a younger person. He reminds me of Brylin last year, just looks like he can't hack it anymore.

[Guy]

...By last year i meant 07-08

[Bergfors Fan Club]

I am excited to see Peters and P3L on the same line tonight.

[AGIV]

I think Peters is a waste

I would like Halischuk to stay

[NeilS]

The role Peters plays is not a waste, though I'd prefer Leblond over him. What is Halischuk going to do when the Flyers have Asham, Carcillo and Laperriere taking runs at our guys? What is he going to do when the Isles have Reich, Thompson, Jackman and Rechlicz doing the same? Is Halischuk going to stop Brashear from taking runs at Devil players? Halischuk still has a good future, but not as a 4th liner.

[Dave]

@Anthony:

I really like the lines you suggest.

I think that the whole idea of moving Elias to center has been put on hold, till they see how well things mesh with R Niedermeyer. My only reservation about your proposed second line is that Elias and Bergfors may be too fast for Nieds to keep up.