New Jersey Devils News

Penguins lose to Devils again, 3-1
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March 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The story line changes every time. A little, anyway. The ending never does. It hasn't since the first time the Penguins played New Jersey back in October, when the Devils kicked off a winning streak against them that swelled to five with a 3-1 victory at the Prudential Center Friday night. The victory boosted New Jersey to within two points of the first-place Penguins in the Atlantic Division and puts it in position to sweep the season series when the teams meet again Wednesday. Questions about whether the Devils had gotten inside the Penguins' head began after New Jersey won the first three meetings, all at Mellon Arena. By now, it might be more reasonable to ask whether the Devils own ..."
Kovalchuk, Devils more difficult to handle
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March 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 columnist Gene Collier
"It was 4:56 p.m. when game-day personnel at Prudential Center conducted a formal test of the New Jersey Devils' ear-splitter. "This is a test of the Devils goal horn," came a faceless voice preceding a deafening fog horn in a near-empty building. "This is only a test." Uh-huh. Had this been an actual goal, there probably would have been players on the ice, although the presence in a Devils uniform of Ilya Kovalchuk hardly seemed to augment that probability. In the first post-trade deadline collision of the top two teams in the Atlantic Division, the Penguins attempted to invert the working karma of the rivalry via the unusual gambit of putting the puck in the net. Sidney Crosby's ..."
Penguins fall in New Jersey, 3-1
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March 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"New Jersey defeated the Penguins, 3-1, at the Prudential Center tonight. The Devils' victory lifted them to within two points of the first-place Penguins (40-23-5) in the Atlantic Division. New Jersey has played two fewer games than the Penguins, and will face them again here Wednesday night. The Penguins have lost all five of their games against the Devils in 2009-10, while New Jersey has won consecutive games for the first time in two months. The Penguins played most of the game with 11 forwards after Craig Adams received a charging major and game misconduct for a hit on Devils defenseman Martin Skoula a split-second after play was blown dead for a high-sticking violation. Adams' hit ..."
Penguins Notebook: Fleury learns from idol Brodeur at Olympics
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March 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Marc-Andre Fleury and Martin Brodeur were back in their usual places Friday night, at opposite ends of the ice. Wearing different sweaters. Intent on doing everything possible to defeat the other's team. But, for two weeks in Vancouver last month, they were teammates on Canada's Olympic squad, which gave Fleury an opportunity to interact with, and learn from, a guy he has admired for a lot of years. "He was great to me," Fleury said. "We hung out a lot. He gave me some tips. That was pretty cool. He was real nice. "I've loved watching him, and it was cool to be on the ice beside him, watching while he does his thing." Brodeur has done his thing as well as, or better than, any goalie in NHL ..."
Jay Pandolfo, Anssi Salmela back in for Devils; Mark Fraser will sit
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March 12
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"After two games as a healthy scratch, veteran left winger Jay Pandolfo will return to the Devils' lineup Friday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pandolfo will replace Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond up front while Anssi Salmela takes rookie Mark Fraser's spot on defense. "I'm glad to be in. Everyone wants to play," Pandolfo said. "I guess I have to be better. We have a lot of forwards." At least Pandolfo does not have to endure last season's anguish of sitting out a string of games. "When you're not playing, it stinks," he said. "But last year I went for a stretch (of games). Two and then back in is better." Fraser is coming off a game against the Rangers in which he made a mistake ..."
Sidney Crosby and Penguins sick of losing to Devils
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March 12
Bergen Record
 
"From spending two weeks as teammates with Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury on the Canadian Olympic team, Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur was able learn a few things about the Pittsburgh Penguins' stars. One was that Crosby and Fleury don't like it one bit that the Devils have had the Penguins' number this season. The Devils will try to improve to 5-0 against the Penguins and gain ground in the race for first in the Atlantic Division in tonight's game at Prudential Center. The Devils dominated the Penguins in winning the first four meetings, outscoring them, 14-2. "They know," Brodeur said of Crosby and Fleury. "It's not like it's not in the back of their mind. They know how well we ..."
Martin Brodeur will wear replica of his first mask when Devils don original jerseys
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March 12
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The mask doesn't make the goalie. But it can make the goalie pretty excited. On Wednesday, March 17, when the Devils wear their original red, green and white jerseys, goalie Martin Brodeur will use a mask painted to look like the one used in his first NHL game back on March 26, 1992. That mask was completely red, except for red and white Devils logos. "I never got to keep that helmet, the mask from when I first played," Brodeur said. "It's kind of a replica. The original was painted over. Masks were pretty expensive. When I first started, a paint job was like $300 or $400. The mask was probably a couple thousand bucks." Although he will wear the old red, green and white jerseys the Devils ..."
Devils defenseman Martin Skoula anxious to show Penguins they made a mistake
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March 11
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils defenseman Martin Skoula has a debt to settle. After being benched and then cast aside by the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, Skoula is anxious to face his former club in Friday night's game at the Prudential Center. "Yes. I was part of the organization for a couple months and I just want to show them that they made a mistake trading me," Skoula told me Thursday. The Penguins traded Skoula to the Maple Leafs on March 2 and the Devils acquired him from Toronto the following day for a fifth round draft pick. Although he never really fit in with the Pens, Skoula is hesitant to talk about what happened. "On my part, I know what happened," he said. "I would say it's over. I can just ..."
After being benched, NJ Devils rookie Mark Fraser tries to forget mistake vs. Rangers
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March 11
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Rookie defenseman Mark Fraser never left the Devils' bench after coughing up the puck on the Rangers' third goal Wednesday night at the Prudential Center. Even though he may come out of the lineup for Friday night's game against the Penguins, Fraser said he has put the turnover behind him. "It's just unfortunate, but it's over and done with now. Today is a new day," Fraser said Thursday. "You've got to learn to put that stuff behind you in order to move on." The play took place at 9:15 of the second period with the Devils leading, 3-2. Fraser went back and lost the puck off his stick at the right side of the net. Unable to clear, he turned it over and the result was a Brandon Prust goal. ..."
Fourth line gave NJ Devils some punch in victory over Rangers
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March 11
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Sure, Zach Parise scored his 31st goal of the season and Martin Brodeur made some key stops, but six different players scored goals. And the fourth line, with Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Dean McAmmond and Rod Pelley, chipped when needed. "Pelley played really well. He had a few nice hits and was good with the puck. Simple plays," Lemaire said. "McAmmond was as solid as he is pretty much every game. And Leblond, for what we expect from him, he's skating and tries to finish his checks. So we were happy with what they did.""
Martin Brodeur: Emotions helped spark NJ Devils against rival Rangers
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March 11
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils winger Zach Parise battles with Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto Wednesday night."I think it's important. When you're struggling you're looking for any kind of offense," Brodeur said. "I think it helps a lot when your defense is active and in the play a lot offensively." The last time the two teams met, Jan. 12 at the Garden, it was a scoreless tie before the Devils won in a shootout. "Every night you don't know. We played a 0-0 game against these guys and now it's a 6-3 game," Brodeur said. "You never know how it's going to pan out and you have to be ready for it. We were ready." The veteran goalie was among those who spoke during the Devils' team meeting after Tuesday's ..."
Devils romp over Rangers, 6-3, at The Rock
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March 11
Bergen Record
 
"Jamie Langenbrunner might have been right. The team meeting the Devils held Tuesday night probably should have taken place a long time ago. If it had, maybe the slump the Devils endured for a full quarter of their season would have been over weeks ago. It sure produced instant results Wednesday night. Or maybe it was just the idea of facing the Rangers. Having lost their passion, the Devils found it Wednesday night in a 6-3 romp over their Hudson River rivals in front of a sellout crowd of 17,625 at Prudential Center. "The last two days we've been working on the team concept," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "The guys responded very well to it. I think we played with more intensity. We ..."
Paul Martin mending
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March 11
Bergen Record
 
"Devils defenseman Paul Martin took another small step toward returning from a fractured left forearm by participating in Wednesday's optional morning skate. Martin, who has been out since Oct. 24, was one of eight players to participate in the skate. It was the first time he was on the ice with multiple teammates. On Tuesday, right wing David Clarkson joined him along with assistant coaches Tommy Albelin and Mario Tremblay to work on passing drills. "It was tough with the guys and that's why I think it's good that we started to do that now as opposed to later," he said. "I have been skating, but it's just not the same. Battling takes a lot more energy." Martin has been working two to three ..."
Lemaire: Stop shots to head
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March 11
New York Post
 
"A winner of eight Stanley Cups as a Canadiens center, Devils coach Jacques Lemaire says the players of his day made up their own rule against head shots. They wouldn't put themselves in those Eric Lindros positions that the NHL is legislating against. "Going across [the ice], that was out of the picture. Everyone was talking, 'Do not go across. You might end up in the hospital.' " Lemaire said before the Devils' 6-3 victory over the Rangers last night at the Prudential Center. "Then [Wayne] Gretzky came in and he started to go across. If he could go across, a lot of guys could go across. He started that, really. "It was not a play in our day. It was a play to get killed." Lemaire did ..."
Devils knock out Rangers, Lundqvist
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March 11
New York Post
 
"When the dust finally settles next month, this one could well prove a turning point for both the Devils and Rangers, all the more significant because of each team's struggles. The Devils' first regular season chasing of Henrik Lundqvist looms that large. It's not supposed to be the Devils who win when goals flock in both ways, but in this goaltending non-duel, New Jersey scored more like old Pitt or Edmonton for a 6-3 victory over a Rangers team that didn't want it quite enough. It was a night of Devils lead, Rangers answer, until the Blueshirts couldn't manage a fourth response on Martin Brodeur. When New Jersey took its first two-goal lead, Lundqvist took a seat. "I gave up five goals," ..."
New York Rangersfourth straight in 6-3 loss to New Jersey Devils
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March 11
New York Daily News
 
"The Rangers and Devils have put on every kind of show this season, from a scintillating scoreless goaltenders' duel to slopfests and slugfests, right down to the highly entertaining hybrid they staged Wednesday night. Highly entertaining and, once again, highly agonizing if you're a fan of the team in blue. These cross-river rivals meet one more time in this regular season, back in Newark on March 25, before which the Rangers will have to figure out a way to play 60 minutes, rather than 20 or 30, if they want the game to mean anything. They dropped another Wednesday night at the Rock, their fourth straight defeat, this one a 6-3 decision to the Devils in a game in which the Rangers kept ..."
Paul Martin won't be able to play in a game for NJ Devils before March 20
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March 10
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Every time Devils defenseman Paul Martin sets his own target date for coming back from a fractured left forearm, his hopes are dashed. Now, Martin says he won't be able to play a game before the March 20 home game against the St,. Louis Blues. "For sure another week from this weekend, to be realistic," Martin said after taking part in an eight-man optional skate Wednesday morning. Martin said he will be examined next week. He is doing rehab with Gary Flink, an orthopedist in Hackensack. "It's going well. Today was the first day of actually doing some battle drills," Martin said. "It's still weak. It needs to get stronger. But I see progress." Martin's left forearm was fractured ..."
Back-to-back losses spark renewed sense of urgency for NJ Devils
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March 10
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Ilya Kovalchuk never remembers a team meeting being called after two straight losses during his 7 1/2 seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers. A prolonged slump like six wins in 20 games seemed normal for a club that made the playoffs just once in nine years. So when the Devils held a dressing room meeting after practice Tuesday and coach Jacques Lemaire implored his players to pull together as a team both on and off the ice, Kovalchuk was impressed. "I love it, because in Atlanta it was a little different," Kovalchuk said. "Here, when the team loses one or two games, it's a big deal. That's how it's supposed to be if you want to win. "I'm very excited. Even when we skated on the same day we ..."
Paul Martin takes part in NJ Devils' optional morning skate
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March 10
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Defenseman Paul Martin was among eight players who took part in the Devils' optional morning skate Wednesday. Martin, recovering from a fractured left forearm he suffered Oct. 24 in Pittsburgh, will not play in Wednesday night's home game against the Rangers. The others who skated were Yann Danis, Jay Pandolfo, Andrew Peters, Ilya Kovakchuk, Anssi Salmela, Martin Skloula and Vladimir Zharkov. David Clarkson watched from the bench."
Devils down in whole
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March 10
New York Post
 
"When the Devils were amazing everyone, leading the league despite missing as much as one-third of their lineup, they were a one-trick pony, chipping in the puck whenever they faced blue-line -- or even red-line -- opposition. They're not the same team anymore. They are actually tons better. But when they improved on paper, their slide took hold. They are 6-13-1 in their past 20 games. The Devils figure their biggest enemy isn't the Rangers, who visit Newark tonight. After some soul-searching in a team meeting yesterday, they say they must conquer themselves first. Missing have been the desperation and simplicity that produced a 32-11-1 record through 44 games. Suddenly, there has been ..."
Tired Zach Parise agreed NJ Devils needed to practice Monday
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March 9
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Zach Parise, who had been away from home for nearly a month between playing in the Olympics and then opening the post-Olympics portion of the NHL schedule with a weeklong Western trip, admitted he was feeling the effects. "You know – the last game, in Edmonton, I was really tired,'' Parise said Monday. "A lot of traveling, altogether, a lot of hockey. I felt tired that last game and hopefully this next couple days, I'll get some rest, get some more sleep and get some good food in – not (Olympic) Village food. And get a little more energy.'' As tired as Parise was, though, he understood coach Jacques Lemaire's decision to make the team practice Monday afternoon, after they were a no-show in ..."
Lemaire damns Devils with faint praise
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March 8
Edmonton Journal
 
"Jacques Lemaire made the Hall of Fame on his offensive ability, playing with Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt in the Montreal Canadiens' 1970s glory days, but as a coach, he's not much of a stick-handler. "Any positives at all?" the New Jersey Devils coach was asked. "The goalie," said Lemaire, letting his two-word answer hang in the air for several seconds. "Lucky we had him, or they could have scored, five, six, seven goals." Martin Brodeur looked like a guy who's only eight wins from 600, but he couldn't do it alone against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night in a 2-0 loss as Jeff Deslauriers bettered his boyhood idol. Brodeur faced 32 shots in the last 40 minutes and made several stunning ..."
Devils suffer first loss in Edmonton since 1995
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March 8
Bergen Record
 
"The time for kind words and positive thinking are over. The Devils now know too well that they aren't going to magically snap out of this slump that has now lasted a full quarter of their season. That was driven home Sunday night with a 2-0 loss to the last-overall Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. After splitting the first two games of this road trip in San Jose and Calgary, the Devils were hoping to finish it on a positive note, but came up with perhaps their poorest effort of the season instead. "It was brutal," left wing Zach Parise said. "We did not play well at all. We deserved to lose." Gilbert Brule and Marc Pouliot provided the goals and Jeff Deslauriers made 22 saves to post his ..."
Devils center Dean McAmmond's neck and shoulder injury not serious
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March 8
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"If there was good news to come out of the Devils' 2-0 loss to the Oilers Sunday night, it was that veteran forward Dean McAmmond's injury is not considered serious. McAmmond was checked into the boards in front of the Devils' bench b yzack Stortini at 6:33 of the second period and did not return. As it turns out, he re-aggravated the neck and shoulder injury he suffered Feb. 10 against the Flyers. "It's not bad. I just have some weakness in my left shoulder. I aggravated it again," said McAmmond, who called it a stinger. "This is not anything that's going to cause me a problem. I just have to stop taking hits in the head." The original injury was a hit from Blair Betts of the Flyers. He ..."
NJ Devils coach Jacques Lemaire didn't hesitate to use Ilya Kovalchuk on the point
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March 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"With Sunday's Devils-Oilers game a 6 p.m. start locally (8 p.m. Eastern time), the Devils will not have a morning skate at Rexall Place in Edmonton. So we won't know if defenseman Martin Skoula will make his Devils debut until just before the game. Coach Jacques Lemaire wasn't tipping his hand. Lemaire did speak about his decision to use left winger Ilya Kovalchuk at the point on 5-on-4 power plays. Brian Rolston was at the other point in the games at San Jose and Calgary. "We were looking for shooters on the point. I guess the shooters we have are all up front. That's the reason why we use two forwards," Lemaire said. "We have to get shots at the net. That's the reason." Interestingly, he ..."
Lemaire won't say whether Martin Skoula with make NJ Devils debut vs. Oilers
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March 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils coach Jacques Lemaire wouldn't reveal whether or not Martin Skoula will play Sunday night in Edmonton. Nevertheless, coach Jacques Lemaire wouldn't say whether Skoula will be in the lineup Sunday night against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. "Maybe yes. Maybe no. We don't know yet," Lemaire said after Saturday's practice. "I focused on other stuff than looking at him. I'll talk to the assistants. I'm sure they had a good look at him and his conditioning. We'll see if he's ready before we use him." Skoula hasn't played in a game since Feb. 1 but feels his conditioning is fine. "I'm ready to play," he told me. "It's up to the coaches." Then again, this was his first practice with ..."
Martin Brodeur 'fighting the puck' and Devils are feeling it
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March 7
Bergen Record
 
"Martin Brodeur has the most wins and shutouts in NHL history, has won the Vezina Trophy four times and is certain to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame after he retires. That doesn't make the Devils' goaltender immune to going through a "lull" from time to time, though. Brodeur is trying to work his way out of one those stretches and the Devils are experiencing it with him. He has allowed three goals or more in nine of his last 10 starts. The last time he had a similar slide was in 2005-06, when he allowed three or more in 10 out of 11 starts from Oct. 13 to Nov. 19. The Devils head into tonight's game in Edmonton with just six wins in their last 19 games (6-12-1) and have fallen ..."
Cold Devils finally reach end of road
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March 7
New York Post
 
"It's a good thing for the Devils this western trip ends tonight against Edmonton, the worst team in the league. Much more traveling and the recent league leaders will open the playoffs on that road that has been so bad to them lately. Since returning from the Olympic break, the Devils have lost the Atlantic Division lead they'd held since Dec. 17. They stand only 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and 6-11-2 since their Jan. 12 high-water mark of 32-11-1 -- more losses in their last 19 games than their first 44. On the road, it's even worse, 2-10-1 in 13 after falling 5-3 in Calgary to Brent Sutter's Flames on Friday. The Buffalo/Ottawa chase is now threatening their standing as top runner-up, ..."
When NJ Devils started to wilt, David Clarkson tried to get them going
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March 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"David Clarkson could see it slipping away from the Devils. A 1-0 lead had disappeared in the second period Friday night as the Calgary Flames got goals from Daymond Langkow and Curtis Glencross in the second period. So Clarkson decided it was time tohis gloves. "We had a great first period. In the second period we didn't play that well," Clarkson said. "They were in our zone all over us, so I was just trying to give us a little spark and get us going." He fought Jamal Mayers at 9:10. By the time Clarkson and Mayers went at it again after 10:34 of the third period, the Flames had built up a 5-1 lead. Worse, Mayers was taking liberties with the Devils, running over Anssi Salmela."
With NJ Devils struggling to win back-to-back games, Zach Parise can't enjoy 30th goal
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March 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"It should have been a night for Zach Parise to celebrate. The Devils' left winger scored twice Friday night to reach the 30-goal plateau for the fourth straight season. However, they came in a 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. "It's at a point right now where we just want to win. It's getting to be that time of the season where we have to start winning," Parise said. "On a personal level, I guess it's nice (to score 30 again). It sounds like a cliche, but it's not about that. We have to win." Parise, who scored a career-high 45 goals last season, is watching the standings. The Devils, who have 19 games remaining in the regular season, haven't won two straight since Jan. 9-12."
Martin Skoula joins NJ Devils but his equipment goes to Chicago
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March 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Martin Skoula joined the Devils in Calgary Thursday night, but his equipment got as far as Chicago. Consequently, Skoula was unable to participate in the team's Friday morning skate at the Pengrowth Saddledome. "Because I went through Chicago, they didn't put it on my flight. I have my sticks here but not my equipment," Skoula said. "It's supposed to get here this afternoon." The defenseman, acquired for a fifth round draft pick in Wednesday's trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, drove from Pittsburgh to New Jersey to get his equipment. He flew from Newark on Thursday and had a connection in Chicago. The defenseman, acquired for a fifth round draft pick in Wednesday's trade with the ..."
NJ Devils5-3 loss to former coach Brent Sutter, Calgary Flames
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March 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"There may not have been any bad blood between the Devils and their former coach, but there was monetary incentive from Brent Sutter Friday night for his players to win the game. "I won't say how much," Sutter said with a laugh. Whatever it may have been, a struggling Flames team scored five straight goals and held on for a 5-3 triumph over the Devils at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Sutter said he took no special satisfaction from this win. "No. My focus has been to win hockey games," he said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone in that organization. This was a game (in which) we needed to play well to have success." The Devils, who started the road trip with a victory in San ..."
Devils burned by the Flames, 5-3
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March 6
Bergen Record
 
"The Devils were right. Before facing Brent Sutter's Calgary Flames Friday night, they said they had more important things to worry about than trying to beat their former head coach. Several of those things were on display in their 5-3 loss to the Flames Friday night at Pengrowth Saddledome. After a strong first period in which Zach Parise scored to give the Devils a 1-0 lead, the Flames scored five consecutive goals to build a 5-1 lead. Three of those goals came in yet another sloppy second period. But the biggest concern has to be the continued struggles of goaltender Martin Brodeur, who gave up five goals on 25 shots. Four of the five goals came on rebounds. "It was a tough game," ..."
Did Devils do enough to get Cup?
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March 6
Bergen Record
 columnist Tom Gulitti
"The trade deadline has passed and the Devils' roster is pretty much set. So, it's time to evaluate whether they have enough to put together their first extended playoff run since their last Stanley Cup in 2003. After playing Friday night in Calgary, they have 19 regular-season games remaining. They were not headed in the right direction prior to the Olympics with just five wins in a 17-game stretch, but a 4-3 win over West-leading San Jose on Tuesday provided hope that they are moving back toward playing like one of the league's elite. A year ago, the Devils were in the middle of a surge in which they won eight times in nine games following Martin Brodeur's return from a torn biceps ..."
Brent Sutter feels heat with Flames
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March 6
Bergen Record
 
"When Brent Sutter took over as head coach of the Devils in 2007, he knew there were some changes that had to be made and he met some initial resistance. The transition went a lot quicker and smoother, however, than what Sutter has encountered in his first season behind the Calgary Flames' bench. The Flames entered Friday night's game against the Devils at Pengrowth Saddledome one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference and the pressure has been building on Sutter and his general manager brother, Darryl. If the Flames don't reach the playoffs and get beyond the first round - something they haven't done since 2004 - both Sutters might not have the option of leaving their jobs ..."
Goal-starved Flames finally fire up offence
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March 6
Calgary Herald
 
"Given the paltry output of recent weeks, this may come as a shock — the Calgary Flames actually do think about offence. Like, when the New Jersey Devils trotted out their power play during Friday's first period, it did not go unnoticed that they were deploying five (!) forwards. And that'll grab the attention of a penalty-killer. "We wanted to take advantage of them guys," said Curtis Glencross, "if we got a chance." So in the second period — with Steve Staios in the penalty box, with the faceoff deep in Calgary territory — when Glencross lost the faceoff, he had only one destination. The left point. And in a hurry. Because Glencross knew who awaited him — Ilya Kovalchuk, a notorious ..."
Flames show spark against Devils
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March 6
Calgary Sun
 
"Revenge against his former club was just icing on the cake for Calgary Flames head coach Brent Sutter. Sutter received something more valuable than any vengeance — the win his team desperately needed with Friday night's 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Finally his team scored more than three goals against a legitimate playoff squad. Actually, finally his team scored at all. After being shutout in the first outing after the Olympic break and going more than 100 minutes without lighting the lamp, the Flames exploded for a one-sided victory you just know their fans — and quite possibly themselves — were sure was still in them."
Devils pay a visit to Sutter
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March 5
Bergen Record
 
"If the Flames were playing a little better, it might be easier for Brent Sutter to say how much he's enjoying coaching in Calgary. With the Flames on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture and trying to fight their way back in, however, the pressure is on Sutter and his general manager/brother, Darryl, to turn things around in the team's final 19 regular-season games. That makes tonight's game at Pengrowth Saddledome against the Devils - the team Sutter coached the past two seasons - that more important for the Flames. Regardless of the Sutter story line, it's a big one for the Devils as well because they're battling Pittsburgh - which beat the Rangers on Thursday night and ..."
Sutter: No scheme to coach Flames
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March 5
New York Post
 
"Brent Sutter read and heard all the raised-eyebrow comments, including those of owner Jeff Vanderbeek about the way he resigned as Devils coach and was hired in very short order by his brother, general manager Darryl, to coach in Calgary. Sutter firmly denies there was any such plan, any such scheme, except to return to his wife and children on the farm. "It [coaching in New Jersey] became difficult because of other people, people more important than the game. Did I expect to be in Calgary after I resigned? No, I did not," Sutter told The Post. "It was such a quick turnaround because they were given permission within five days to talk to me. They wanted a coach in place and they had a ..."
Devils add another 'big body'
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March 4
Bergen Record
 
"Having made his big splash a month ago with the deal to acquire Ilya Kovalchuk, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello did only some minor tinkering Wednesday before the NHL's 3 p.m. trade deadline. As he often has done prior to past deadlines, Lamoriello added some depth to his defense by acquiring defenseman Martin Skoula, 30, from the Toronto Maple Leafs for the team's 2010 fifth-round draft pick. The Leafs acquired Skoula from Pittsburgh on Tuesday in a deal for Alexei Ponikarovsky. Skoula, 30, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound native of Litomerice, Czech Republic, played three seasons for Devils coach Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota before ..."
No more blockbuster trades for NJ Devils, who acquire defenseman Martin Skoula
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March 4
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello already made his blockbuster trade when he acquired Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers back on Feb. 4. The only deal Lamoriello completed Wednesday before the 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline won't have many fans jumping out of their seats. The Devils picked up defenseman Martin Skoula, 30, from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifth round pick in this June's entry draft. Skoula, who is earning $575,000, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. "I am happy. Certainly the major trade we made was made before the Olympic break," Lamoriello told The Star-Ledger. "When we did the Kovalchuk trade, if we didn't do anything else I would've been happy. Trades ..."
Lamoriello bags his shopping list
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March 4
New York Post
 
"Lou Lamoriello said he did his trade deadline work a month ago today. The Devils GM claimed he couldn't have made that Ilya Kovalchuk deal if he had waited until yesterday's shopping shutdown. "I do not feel we would have gotten it done if we hadn't done it when we did. There are a lot of intangible reasons why," Lamoriello told The Post yesterday. "We did what we wanted to do before the break." Lamoriello yesterday did not acquire the first- or second-line center his offense needs, nor did he land the big-time righty defenseman he doesn't have. He did add backliner Martin Skoula from Toronto, which had acquired Skoula on Tuesday with prospect Luca Caputi from the Penguins for Alexei ..."
Devils grab veteran Martin Skoula from Toronto Maple Leafs in NHL trade deadline deal
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March 4
New York Daily News
 
"After making the blockbuster move of the season well before the Olympic break, the Devils settled for a minor trade before Wednesday's deadline. President Lou Lamoriello sent a 2010 fifth-round pick to the Maple Leafs for defenseman Martin Skoula. The Devils had already picked off the biggest fish in the trade market well before the deadline, dealing for pending free agent sniper Ilya Kovalchuk on Feb.4. Lamoriello had been looking for an experienced defenseman since the Kovalchuk deal, as the Devils gave up Johnny Oduya in the trade and Paul Martin has been out since Oct. 24 with a broken forearm."
Morris, Skoula first to go on NHL trade deadline day
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March 3
Toronto Sun
 
"With four hours to go before the NHL trade deadline hits at 3 p.m., a couple of defencemen are on the move. The Maple Leafs didn't keep Martin Skoula long, dealing him to the New Jersey Devils for a fifth-round draft pick this summer, less than 12 hours after they acquired him and Luca Caputi from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Alexei Ponikarovsky trade. The Leafs had to take Skoula from the Penguins for salary cap reasons in Pittsburgh, so general manager Brian Burke essentially received Caputi and a fifth-rounder for Ponikarovsky. The Boston Bruins have traded defenceman Derek Morris to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2011. In 58 games this season, Morris has ..."
Maple Leafs send recently acquired Skoula to Devils
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March 3
TSN.ca
 
"Martin Skoula's time in Toronto was brief as it appears the defenceman is on his way to the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year old Skoula, who was acquired by the Maple Leafs on Monday from the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Luca Caputi in exchange for Alex Ponikarovsky, has three goals and five assists in 33 games this season."
Olympic break may have come at a perfect time for victorious NJ Devils
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March 3
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Olympic break may have come at the right time for the Devils. Although they didn't feel they were playing badly before the Olympics, they went 5-10-2 in their final 17 games. So coming back after the Olympic break with a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks Tuesday night at HP Pavilion was important for the Devils. The struggle before the break is in the past. "I think everyone forgot about it and moved on," Zach Parise said. "I didn't think so before, but maybe it was good for us to get away, clear our minds a little bit and start fresh." Fellow U.S. Olympian Jamie Langenbrunner agreed. "I think the break came at a perfect time for us," he said. So, how did Parise and Langenbrunner ..."
Devils hang on for 4-3 victory over San Jose Sharks in return from Olympic break
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March 3
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"You couldn't blame Devils goalie Martin Brodeur if he had preferred to be back in Vancouver sitting on the bench for Team Canada. After flirting with a shutout, Brodeur had to weather a three-goal, third-period outburst from the San Jose Sharks as the Devils barely held onto a 4-3 victory Tuesday night at HP Pavilion in their first game after the Olympic break. "What happened? We won. It was a good game, a great game," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "This is great. A week from now we'll say we just won in San Jose. We won't say that they were coming back. We got two points. "It's like the Olympics. We (Canada) won. They won't say a year from now it went into overtime. We won it. ..."
Trade deadline day
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March 3
Bergen Record
 
"The NHL trade deadline arrives at 3 p.m. today and, as usual, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello is believed to be looking to upgrade his defense. Carolina's Joe Corvo is available and has drawn a lot of interest from teams seeking help for their power play. There continues to be speculation that Lamoriello will try to bring back defenseman Scott Niedermayer, but it appears unlikely the Anaheim Ducks will trade him because they were only three points out of a playoff spot entering Tuesday's games. Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis, a potential unrestricted free agent, also reportedly is available, though the Thrashers are fighting to hold on to a playoff spot in the West. It's also ..."
Devils know the way to win in San Jose
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March 3
Bergen Record
 
"For 48 minutes Tuesday night, the Devils played as if their pre-Olympic problems were well behind them and they were ready to re-establish themselves as one of the NHL's top contenders. As dominant was they were in building a four-goal lead over the West-leading San Jose Sharks, however, they looked just as fragile in letting three quarters of it slip away in a span of 2:46. It took a timeout from head coach Jacques Lemaire after the Sharks' third goal with 8:28 remaining to settle the Devils down and they held on the rest of the way for a 4-3 victory that snapped a six-game road losing streak. The win kept them in first place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of Pittsburgh. "It ..."
Devils' Parise Puts Medal Away and Nose Back to Grindstone
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March 3
New York Times
 
"When Zach Parise took his leap into the corner boards to celebrate his goal with 24.4 seconds left that would send the gold medal game between the United States and Canada into overtime, it might have been the moment he took one of the greatest leaps an American hockey player can make - into the country's sporting consciousness. Alas, miracles on ice happen only so often. No matter that the game, which ended with Sidney Crosby's overtime goal and a 3-2 victory for Canada, was the most watched hockey game in the United States since the 1980 Olympics. Or that Parise, who had four goals and four assists and was chosen to the all-tournament team, embodied that American archetype - the gritty, ..."