Devils Face Resurgent Isles
New Jersey Looks to Keep Winning at the Rock
Posted on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 10:00 PM
By Stan Fischler
Winners of seven straight on the road since the opening of 2009-2010, the Devils are just getting the hang of winning at home.
And that goes for Jacques Lemaire as well, as he prepares his decimated roster for a Friday night visit to The Rock by a rejuvenated Islanders club.
When Devs' boss Lou Lamoriello designed the Prudential Center for his club, he specifically included a practice rink adjacent to the primary pond. The scrimmage rink even has its own set of dressing rooms.
But as the Devils frittered away home game after home game — starting with back-to-back losses to the Flyers and Devils — Lemaire decided on a change of venue.
"I wanted us to start practicing on the ice we would be playing our games on instead of the other rink," said Lemaire.
And so they did, prior to the match against Washington on Wednesday.
The result was a 3-2 come-from-behind victory which prompted the coach to order another practice in the big building again on Thursday.
"We'll see what happens on Friday." he added, "but even I'm getting used to it (Prudential Center) so it's helping all of us."
Jacques could use all the help he can get now that it has been determined that workhorse center Rob Niedermayer will be sidelined with an "upper body injury" for the weekend games (Friday in Newark and Saturday in Ottawa).
That means Lemaire is minus two key forwards — Jay Pandolfo being the other — as well as defensemen Paul Martin and Johnny Oduya.
Martin has been replaced by ever-improving Andy Greene, while Cory Murphy is pinch-hitting for Oduya. So far, Murphy has not found his groove, but the elements of offensive-defensive play may jell with more ice time just as it has with Greene.
Finding someone to move into the vacated Niedermayer slot is another story which will have its chapter written if long-awaited Patrik Elias returns to the lineup against the Isles.
All indications are that the most productive of Devils forwards will personally make the decision at game time; and not a moment sooner.
"It will be up to Patrik," Lemaire said, "and how he feels."
Because of the back-to-back games, New Jersey will start backup Yann Danis against his former club from Nassau. In his lone start at Boston, Marty Brodeur's stand-in impressed with his calm, cool, collected effort, but it was only one game and more will be known about the French-Canadian after he faces John Tavares, Inc.
Coach Scott Gordon likely will start Dwayne Roloson against the Devils since his other "Number One" goalie, Marty Biron, was beaten, 3-0, in Buffalo on Wednesday night.
After a somewhat blah start, the Isles have moved into a higher gear and now can sniff a playoff berth with meaningful contributions from Tavares, linemate Kyle Okposo and surprising addition Matt Moulson.
This will be a tell-tale game for each club with special emphasis on the Devils need to establish more of a home ice presence.
As the bromide goes, "Home Is Where The Heart Is.,"
What Lemaire wants to know is whether The Rock also is where the wins are!
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