The news on Ilya Kovalchuk's absence from Game 2 tonight hit the Devils hard this morning.
"No one can take away from him when plays on top of his game what a great player he is and he is a big part of our team and hes dangerous,center Patrik Elias said. He makes the other team think. He hasnt been himself. He has been obviously hurting a little bit and this is the decision they made.
"For us, were going to have guys playing a little more minutes, different lines, different situations. Guys are going to be stepping in on the power play and all that. But it happens. It happens throughout the regular season and it happens throughout the playoffs many times and youve got guys stepping in.
But Kovy will tell you, you need healthy guys there. You need healthy guys. It is a team sport at the end of the day. I believe well just work our butts off tonight as a team. Its not about one guy. We know what Kovy brings to the table every night and his offensive skills and hes a threat out there every time, but were going to work our (rear ends) off today and try to get a win here as a team.
Zach Parise said he hoped Kovalchuk would be around for Game 3 in Newark.
Its hard when youre hurt," he said. "Everyone wants to play, but sometimes youre limited to what you can do. So, hopefully, well have him for Game 3. Were not going to pout all the way to tonights game and feel sorry for ourselves because hes not in the lineup. We all have to be better now and it will give some guys an opportunity to take his minutes. The lines will be a little different, so we have to make it work.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net