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.

{Follow this blog on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TGfireandice.}

***

With his assist tonight on Brendan Shanahan's goal in the third period, rookie right wing Niclas Bergfors finished the preseason with a team-high five points on one goal and four assists in five games. Cory Murphy (four assists in four games), Brian Rolston (one goal, three assists in five games) and Dainius Zubrus (one goal, three assists in four games) all had four preseason points.

Bergfors, who skated on a line with Shanhan and and Zubrus tonight, looked more comfortable in the second and third periods tonight.

"I felt pretty good," he said. "My legs were a little bit heavier, but I got it going later. I think I skated a little bit too much in the beginning, unnecessarily, but we played a little better as a line as the game went on."

It was another new line combination for Bergfors to adjust to as head coach Jacques Lemaire continued to search for the right combinations.

"It's always new, but you learn more and more," he said.

Bergfors believes he's done the best he can to earn a spot on the team (at this point it would be shocking if he didn't make it).

"Yeah, I think so in the way I prepared," Bergfors said. "I felt good. I'm satisfied. We'll see now what happens."

Does he think he made the team?

"We'll see tomorrow," he said. "You never know."

***

After going scoreless in their first two preseason games together, the Devils' top line of Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Jamie Langenbrunner produced two goals tonight -- one from Zajac and one from Parise. There was a noticeable increase from their intensity in Saturday's 1-0 win over Philadelphia, in which they did not generate many good scoring chances.

"We knew we weren't very sharp last game," Zajac said. "We didn't play with a lot of energy and that was no secret. But we had a couple of good days of practice and watched some film of what can improve and tonight we played with a little more jump and pressured them and made some plays instead of throwing pucks away."

***

Defenseman Mike Mottau said he felt OK in tonight's game after missing Saturday's contest with an upper-body injury.

"It didn't feel too sore, so that's a good sign," Mottau said.

***

One interesting thing that I failed to mention earlier was that Devils coach Jacques Lemaire had Shanahan take the offensive zone draws for his line with Zubrus and Bergfors in the last two periods. Shanahan went 4-2 on faceoffs in the game. Zubrus had a very good game on draws, going 8-3. Zajac was 16-5.

The Devils went 40-18 as a team on faceoffs.

Comments

[iamtheprodigy]

Were our face-off numbers this good in the other preseason games, TG? Or are the Islanders just bad on draws?

[Puckster]

Can't wait until the final roster is determined tomorrow. Bergfors is basically a lock at this point. It likely comes down to either PL3 or Halischuk to make the final roster spot.

[TG]

The Devils faceoff numbers weren't nearly as good against Philadelphia on Saturday (16-27). A lot of it had to do with Tavares, who had a tough time against Zajac. Tavares was 4-11 for the night.

[A Dark Knight]

some thoughts from the game:
-1st period was sloppy, had a hard time controlling the puck
-2nd period was great, other than the penalties we were able to recover and get some goals
-ZZPops line found its chemistry again...Zajac's goal was REALLY nice, great set up by Parise (Zach could've scored a couple more goals tonight if it wasn't for the puck bouncing off his stick a few times)
-Rolston's goal was a soft one by Roloson, however Rolston should get a lot of credit for this one, he made a nice bounce pass off the boards to himself ala Ovechkin (except it was slower and he wasn't faced backwards)
-Reilichz or whatever his name is is a joke, first he tries to fight White (who we all know doesn't do that anymore, and then he comes back later after a different fight and pushes him down, he shouldve been thrown out
-Marty was Marty
-On Shanahan goal: great cross ice pass on the 2 on 1 by Bergfors who put it on Brendan's stick and the shot was vintage Shanahan
-Devils were too much of a jekyl and hyde team tonight, when they were good they looked good, perhaps they played down to the islanders at times

[Scott731]

Was Shanny taking all offensive draws or only when the draw was on his strong side and Zubrus' weak side? I only noticed Shanny taking draws on his strong side.

[nnjrules]

Love it..Crash line 2.. Peters is peluso, neither could skate well, both fight anyone, both fall over swinging and can't stay on their skates long while fighting, Pelley, comes in with a hard hit and stirs the pot ala holik, holik much more a threat to score, Pl3 is kinda McKayish in that he isn't a middle weight or a heavy, but will fight anyone and has some upside to his game. Only thing is Mckay and Holik evolved, while Peluso had nightmares of Twister, the biggest bad boy ever. That includes boogieman Ok maybe not ever but top 5 of guys I seen, stu grimson, probert, kocur, twist, boogard, crowder on the outside looking in. Neil what's your top 5

[NeilS]

Don't get used to that crash line with Leblond on it, he's definitely gotta be behind the 8 ball right about now.

[NeilS]

Although, now that I re-read Lemaire's comments, he basically gave Leblond the ultimate compliments you can give a guy who plays that role, namely "not a defensive liability" and "I liked what I saw."

[Zorin]

Had a great view, 1 row from the ice of Clarky pounding the piss out of that mullet wearing dope, Witt.

And Salvador who literally beat the life out of his pray...

And nobody puts 'Peters' in a corner..LOL. Thanks Buffalo!

[JJ]

This one shift on one shift off garbage better stop because we don't have the overwhelming talent to do that kinda thing and expect success...then again when I think about it NO TEAM these days has the overwhelming talent to take shifts off and be successful!

[MIKE C.]

I was just reading that Halischuk was given #16 which kinda sounds like he will make the team. I think Pandolfo might be the odd man out here.
I know he is a good guy and solid team player but His role seems to be a dieing breed. We have plenty of guys capable of killing penalties.

[dennybrute]

I agree Mike C...Pando hasnt been the same since he slide into the boards a couple years ago..or was that last year?

[Siikonen -FIN-]

Bergfors has DEFINITELY made the team after that game.

[ronmexico3]

Pando hit the boards hard two years ago. I believe he was leading the team in scoring at the time too (as shocking as that sounds). I am sentimental towards him because he has been great for us for so long, but it was time to move on from Madden, and I think it's time to move on from him as well.

Sorry Jay.

[2P]

i don't think lou will put pando down to the minors.. and i definitely don't see buying him out. so i don't think he's the odd man out. and don't anyone dare suggest a trade...

[ronmexico3]

sorry 2P, but wasn't boston interested in him? can't remember where i heard that from though

[TG]

Mats Sundin announced his retirement today. Cam Ward is getting a six-year extension from the Canes.

[Ruppamania]

My top 5 fighters: 1. Bob Probert 2. Dave Brown 3. Tony Twist 4. Joey Kocur 5. (tie) Georges Laraque, Derek Boogaard, Sandy McCarthy, Link Gaetz, Stu Grimson, and an honorable mention to Marty McSorely who was a punching bag early in his career but evolved into a great fighter. OK, so that's a top 10!!

[95Crash]

Islanders fan talking trash under the Peters story

[mikeP]

Halischuk seems to have had a really good camp. No reason to punish the kid - let him start the season on the 4th line with Pelley and Pando (though Peters would probably play in his place vs Philly).

Like I've stated earlier, there is no reason to keep 2 enforcers on the team. Peters and PLx3 are both one-dimensional fighters, and Peters is the vet. Waive PLx3 to Lowell (I doubt he'll get claimed).

PikkaChu has shown nothing in camp, waive him to Lowell (or Europe) as well

TG, if PLx3 clears waivers and gets assigned to Lowell, would he have to go through re-entry waivers to get recalled?

[2P]

awesome name first of all, ronmexico, but i can't seem to find this rumor anywhere. Also, they have NOWHERE near the cap space to take him on. http://nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=BOS&season=0910

[TG]

I believe PL3 has a one-way contract, so he would have to clear re-entry waivers to come back up.

[loulam.proboards.com]

Salvador literally beat the life out of a guy? That would have been all over the news.

[Per]

I think we all get the point...Bergfors is in. Nice one, TG!

Was at the game last night, huge improvement from the terrible Flyers game. ZZPop started working, thankyouverymuch. Bergfors, I could agree that he needs to be more physical, but come on, he has so many other skills that other, more physical players, does not have. You shove the puck his was, he protects it with his stick technique and skating and CREATES something. I love Clarkie, but how many times does he lose the puck because he is like Bambi on ice? And sure, Bergie doesn's always go into every situation hard hitting, but he is after all a rookie...what is Rolston's excuse?

Islanders came in with a "fighting" attitude and got nothing for it. That's the good thing. Tavares, as he was yesterday, looked like a talented rookie, nothing more. He's not a Crosby, that's for sure. And we can hate Cindy all we want, but he can take his own fights.

[Per]

btw, were people complaining about Sherry Ross? Or was it someone else? I like her a lot, she is way tougher than Chico, who sounds like my grandma, plus a total crush on Marty.