NJayDevil Posted October 9, 2002 Share Posted October 9, 2002 Devils-Senators Preview October 9, 2002 GAME: New Jersey Devils (41-28-9-4) at Ottawa Senators (39-27-9-7). TIME: Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT. The New Jersey Devils have long been a team associated with defense. This season, the offensive contributions of their defensemen could be critical to their success. The Devils take on the Ottawa Senators at the Corel Centre in the season opener for both teams. General manager Lou Lamoriello decided to address the needs on his blue line during the offseason, and acquired Oleg Tverdovsky as part of a five-player deal that sent top right wing Petr Sykora to Anaheim. The deal allows new Devils coach Pat Burns to form three versatile defense pairings that will feature one puck-moving defenseman on each unit in Tverdovsky, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Rafalski. The trio combined for 24 goals and 88 assists in 2001-02. ``We have the talent,'' goaltender Martin Brodeur said. ``It's a matter of putting everything together. (Burns) expects different things than the other coaches we've had. It will be interesting to see how everybody understands what he wants us to do and how long it takes us to figure out the way we will be successful.'' The Devils will be trying to create a new offensive identity this season. Burns must figure out where the scoring will come from beyond the top line of Joe Nieuwendyk, Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner. Even that No. 1 forward unit looks considerably different from last season, when the ``A-Line'' of Elias, Sykora and Jason Arnott, traded to Dallas for Nieuwendyk, was the Devils' top line. The biggest void is at second-line center, the position occupied by 25-goal scorer Bobby Holik until he departed in the offseason to sign a five-year, $45 million contract with the archrival New York Rangers. In addition, the Devils must contend with the questions that followed last year's first-round playoff exit after winning the Eastern Conference title in 1999-00 and 2000-01. ``I think there is a 50-50 feeling about this team,'' center Scott Gomez said. ``Half the media and the fans are thinking we are going to be in deep trouble and rebuilding. The other half thinks we are one of the top four in the East. I think we'll be all right.'' The Senators did not make many personnel changes to a team that reached the Eastern Conference semifinals and lost a seven-game series to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The biggest news for Jacques Martin's team was who did not make the final roster -- 19-year-old center Jason Spezza. The second overall pick in the 2001 draft and Ottawa native was one of the final cuts, getting sent to Binghamton of the AHL on Tuesday. Ottawa does hope winger Petr Schatslivy will be able to fill the void left by departed veteran Shawn McEachern. Schatslivy had 35 points in 31 games for AHL affiliate Grand Rapids last season. 2001-02 STANDINGS: Devils - 95 points, 3rd place, 2 PB, Atlantic Division. Senators - 94 points, 3rd place, 7 PB, Northeast Division. 2001-02 TEAM LEADERS: Devils - Elias, 29 goals and 61 points; Rafalski, 40 assists; Colin White, 133 PIM. Senators - Daniel Alfredsson, 37 goals and 71 points; Radek Bonk, 45 assists; Chris Neil, 231 PIM. 2001-02 SPECIAL TEAMS: Devils - Power play: 16.9 percent (44 for 261), 9th in NHL. Penalty killing: 83.7 percent (221 for 264), 20th. Senators - Power play: 16.6 percent (55 for 331), 10th. Penalty killing: 84.4 percent (259 for 307), 17th. GOALTENDERS: Devils - Brodeur (38-26-9, 4 SO, 2.15 GAA); Corey Schwab (12-10-5, 1, 2.73 with Maple Leafs). Senators - Patrick Lalime (27-24-8, 7, 2.48); Martin Prusek (0-1-0, 2.90). SEASON SERIES: Devils, 3-1. Brodeur was the difference in New Jersey's three wins, turning aside 88 of 91 shots. He had 39 saves in a 2-0 victory at the Corel Centre on Dec. 15, then led the Devils to a home-and-home sweep with 49 saves in a three-day span. Elias had two goals and two assists in those two victories, 3-2 on Oct. 20 and 2-1 on Oct. 23. Lalime stopped 52 of 59 shots in the three losses for the Senators. LAST MEETING: Dec. 22; Senators, 1-0. At East Rutherford, N.J., Jani Hurme made 14 of his 23 saves in the second period, and Mike Fisher scored in the second as the Senators avoided a season sweep. ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Devils - 19-15-5-2 on the road; Senators - 21-13-3-4 at home. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news/ap/200210...orspreview.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsrule33 Posted October 9, 2002 Share Posted October 9, 2002 Got tickets for that. I am going nuts waiting for the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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