The Devils are holding an optional morning skate today for tonight's game against the Rangers.
Travis Zajac, Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner were the first players on the ice to do their usual "shot club" drills and then left before main part of the skate began.
Others on the ice today: Jay Pandolfo, David Clarkson, Rod Pelley, Matt Halischuk, Ilkka Pikkarainen, Niclas Bergfors, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Andrew Peters, Rob Niedermayer, Mike Mottau, Cory Murphy, Andy Greene and Yann Danis.
Devils coach Jacques Lemaire, who is not on the ice this morning, said Sunday that all of the players had to be at the rink this morning.
The Devils are coming off a 5-2 season-opening loss to the Flyers on Saturday. The Rangers are 1-1 after losing in Pittsburgh on Friday and then winning their home opener against Ottawa on Saturday.
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After that game, NOTHING should be "optional".
Posted by: Jason | October 05, 2009 at 10:02 AM
TG, Can you ask Langenbrunner if he learned anything last night to help the Devils beat the Rangers? Perhaps, he could bodyslam Gaborik.
Posted by: NJSwampdragon | October 05, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Link to my article in The Record today.
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/hockey/devils/Devils_cram_before_showdown.html
Posted by: TG | October 05, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Hopefully Lou will see we need a playmaking center and trade for one. We have been lacking specifically this ever since Scott Gomez left. Maybe Patrick Marleau?
Posted by: NJDevs7 | October 05, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I know I'm negative and pessimistic but here's what i'm thinking anyway.
As the regular's here know I had to take a client to the Rags game Sat. night. So here's my amateur scouting report:
Right now they look pretty good. They played a very up-tempo game. Finished their checks pretty well and Lundqvist looked good. Gaborik is world class and if they find a way to get him to play 75 games he's a steal. We all know that's his big issue. Their PP was abysmal. At one point the refs had it 5pps-1pp in the Rags favor but they still didn't score.
I watched the replay of the Devil game. I think we all know what we saw. Yes...it's one game. Yes...there are 81 more. But...if that's any indication, than they are even less prepared to tangle with the class of the conference (Pitts, Filly, Wash) than even I thought they were.
Here's hoping I'm wrong but...???
Posted by: Warren | October 05, 2009 at 10:22 AM
TG- any word if pikkaranen is off of IR and in the lineup? Latest on shanahan? Thanks.
Posted by: HF | October 05, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Hope this link works for tor those of us with Directv...If not, I am off to the local sports bar ;)
http://atdhe.net/
Posted by: 95-00-03 | October 05, 2009 at 10:33 AM
TG, can you find out why Rolston is not a member of the shot club? He should be the president considering how much he misses the net.
Posted by: Ali-P | October 05, 2009 at 10:38 AM
add Jay "bricks" Pandolfo to that club as well Ali-P
Posted by: HF | October 05, 2009 at 10:41 AM
He IS a member HF. Apparently it's not helping.
Posted by: JJ | October 05, 2009 at 10:53 AM
The Blue Skirts have more talent than the Devils, it will be tough to beat them.
Posted by: Bergfors Fan Club | October 05, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Not sure about that....both teams have strengths and weaknesses andaren;t too far apart talent wise. It should come down to whichever goaltender plays better...that said, I'm not holding out a lot of hope unless Marty can get into the game for a change.
I'll be there tonight and will be sick if I have to listen to the Rags fans...shut them up early and often! Zach breaks through tonight!
Posted by: Mark | October 05, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Dear Devils,
Please.
PLEASE beat the Rangers.
Please.
I can't stand losing to them.
I loathe the incessant self congratulatory BS that their fans puff up their chests with after we lose to them. Granted.... I talk a whole lot of smack to them, and they have every right to gloat back at me when they win, so... please don't put me in that situation.
do SOMETHING.
make me proud.
Posted by: gooball420 | October 05, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Actually, comparing player against player, I believe the Devs are more talented top to bottom.
Also, no need to go after Gaborik. He'll get injured without any help from our team :)
Posted by: Number6 | October 05, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Not sure where the Rags are better than us other than in EA's NHL10. Anyone notice that if you look at the ratings on all of their defensemen they look virtually identical? Someone obviously didn't do their homework.
Back to the real world, the Rangers defense has more holes than...well to keep it PG let's just say they have a lot of holes. They give up a ton of odd-man situations due to coaching style and inexperience. Not so sure I'd even say they looked good vs. Ottawa any more than I'd say that Ottawa looked bad.
Posted by: JJ | October 05, 2009 at 11:16 AM
TG, any word if Elias is skating, with or without the team? We're already in the "3 to 6 week" window.
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