SC Devs Fan Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 http://www.nypost.com/seven/04282007/sport...ark_everson.htm PATRIK'S BACK! DEVILS, ELIAS LOOK TO EVEN SERIES By MARK (N)Єverson REINFORCEMENT:Devils' captain Patrik Elias, who missed the series opener with a cold and fever, will play in Game 2 against the Senators tonight. April 28, 2007 -- Devils' captain Patrik Elias insists he is not returning to the lineup as a savior. If not divine, however, he wants to be very, very good. "I'm Patrik . . . St. Patrik," Elias said yesterday, hoping to help the Devils even the second-round playoff series at 1-1 when they face the Senators at the Meadowlands (8:00) tonight. Turning serious, Elias - New Jersey's leading regular-season scorer this year and for six of the last seven - said the Devils don't do saviors, or saints. "No. Every time we were successful, our whole team was doing what we have to do," Elias said. "You can sense it, when the guys are going." Laid low by a cold and fever, Elias sat out New Jersey's 5-4 loss in Thursday's second-round opener. He had seven points in the Devils' six-game triumph over Tampa Bay, becoming the first player to score 100 points (101) as a Devil. He said he began feeling his cold coming last Saturday, on the eve of the Devils' clincher. He said he was still not 100 percent yesterday, his first day back on-ice since his three-assist showing in Game 6. "Probably not (100 percent), but good enough," Elias said. "I feel good enough to play." Elias said he lost a few pounds while sick, and his lockout bout with hepatitis left him more susceptible to illnesses, which then lasted longer. Erik Rasmussen, Mike Rupp, Jim Dowd and Sergei Brylin all saw duty in Elias' normal spot alongside Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta. Few would argue that the Devils couldn't have used him in their failed comeback from a 4-0 deficit after 16:39. "It's a big boost for us. He's the best player on our team," said Gomez, who led the playoffs with 11 points after the first games of the second round. The Devils need all hands. If they don't win tonight, this could be their last game at the Meadowlands. "Playoffs they say are long. But sometimes it can be short," Martin Brodeur said. "Hoping to win two in Ottawa, just to get back in the series, would be a tough one. Who knows? Maybe we could do it. . . ." It's something they don't want to find out. "We want to leave here, 1-1. That's all we have in our minds. That's the goal," Gomez said. Otherwise they have to buck some long odds. Thirty seven of 277 teams survived 0-2 deficits (13.4 percent). The Devils have already done that once (1994 over Bruins) in five times themselves. * Lou Lamoriello said the Devils may enjoy their first sellout of the season tonight. . . . Late start is because of an ice show already booked at the Meadowlands. The show's start time was moved up to noon today to allow enough time for hockey ice to be prepared. That 0-2 comeback on the Bruins was the only time the Devils ever dropped their opening two games at home. They are 0-4 when they return home trailing series 0-2. Devils have won their last 10 series that opened at home. . . . New Jersey is 10-8 in series that opened with a split, 6-4 when that split came at the Meadowlands, including a first-round triumph over the Lightning. Daniel Alfredsson did not practice yesterday for the Senators, but that's not unusual for the Ottawa captain in the playoffs, and he'll play tonight. . . . Senators went 2-for-4 and the Devils were 0-for-3 on the power play in Game 1. The Devils also allowed a short-handed goal. mark.(N)Єverson@nypost.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefiestygoat Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 I'm glad Elias is back, but he must have been pretty damn sick if he lost a couple of pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravisZajac Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 (N)Єverson predicts that the Devils will win in 6games. We are damned .. But seriously, i think its great to see Elias Back.. I hope the Devils pull off a Win today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoJohnnyGo Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 Let's just hope Marty doesn't ever take a Playoff game off if he ever feels a little under the weather? I doubt he will, he is a real Leader!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puckrock Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 I'm not really worried about how the team will play tonight. Game 1 was just an abomination. Plain and simple, the whole team, including Marty, just didn't show up. That rarely happens, and almost never back-to-back. I'm expecting an onslaught from the Devils tonight, hopefully going to Ottawa 1-1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdevils2003champs Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 (N)Єverson predicts that the Devils will win in 6games.We are damned .. But seriously, i think its great to see Elias Back.. I hope the Devils pull off a Win today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devils26 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 With Elias back it will make our offense, which looked pretty good in game 1, even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravisZajac Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 yeah..We have to prAY A lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikepopowich Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 good news, glad he'll play tonight. gotta love the egg line. lets do it to em. and parise should have a good game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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