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Zajac knew he could have recovered from the Achilles tendon tear and surgery sufficiently to play on it, but he might feel it at various points for the remainder of his career.

"I definitely thought about that. Coming into this year knowing I felt good from the start and the fact I still feel good, it's now out of my head," Zajac said.

Zajac wore an 'A' along with Patrik Elias tonight.

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.08.2013

668803 New Jersey Devils

Devils shake up lineup: Jacob Josefson, Adam Larsson to face Sabres

Rich Chere

The Star-Ledger

April 07, 2013 at 5:51 PM, updated April 07, 2013 at 7:12 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Devils coach Pete DeBoer shook up his lineup for tonight's meeting with the Sabres in an attempt to end a six-game losing streak.

Center Jacob Josefson and right winger Tom Kostopoulos will be in the lineup at First Niagara Center while Alexei Ponikarovsky and Matt D'Agostini will come out.

On defense, Adam Larsson will play his first game since Mar. 30 and Anton Volcehnkov will also be in the lineup. Henrik Tallinder and Peter Harrold will be scratches.

"Mostly for fresh legs. This is our third game in four nights," DeBoer said. "But we need to change some things up. We need a spark. We're in a little bit of a rut here."

The Devils are 0-3-3 in their last six games and out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The Devils' lines will be: Elias-Zajac-Sullivan; Henrique-Loktionov-Clarkson; Zubrus-Josefson-Bernier; Carter-Gionta-Kostopoulos.

Josefson doesn’t have a locker stall in the Devils’ dressing room back in New Jersey, but he has a spot in the lineup.

“It is what it is. Too many guys. I guess I’m the youngest one so I’m in the other locker room,” Josefson said with a smile.

Josefson was recalled from Albany (AHL) for the second time this season on Friday.

“Last time I was here I don’t think I played the way I wanted to play,” Josefson said. “My confidence wasn’t at the top. I went down and worked on that part. It’s a lot better now. I’m excited to be back.”

Why would he lack confidence?

“Maybe because I didn’t play too good. It was nagging on me a little bit,” he said. “I was down there for a little while and I feel more comfortable. My confidence is back.”

So is his health. Josefson was hit in the head by a shot while playing for Albany and suffered a concussion. It was a longer road back than he expected, but he is fully recovered.

“I’m not worried about that,” Josefson said. “I actually thought it would be way shorter. I got a little dizzy and my balance wasn’t that good right after. I had a few days off and then I started working out. I got dizzy and started (vomiting) again so I needed a few extra days. Now I feel 100 percent.”

He also lost a tooth, which he swallowed when he was high-sticked in the mouth. Josefson joked that he’s competing with teammate Mattias Tedenby, who suffered a skate cut to the right side of his face and needed more than 100 stitches.

“He’s an inspiration for me,” Josefson said with a grin.

He doesn’t feel any added pressure in having to give the Devils a spark.

“It’s a team game. Everybody has to fill in,” he said. “When you haven’t won in a few games you try some different stuff. I’m excited to be back in the lineup.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.08.2013

668804 New Jersey Devils

Dainius Zubrus key to Devils' league-leading 10th shorthanded goal

Rich Chere

The Star-Ledger

April 08, 2013 at 12:04 AM, updated April 08, 2013 at 12:25 AM

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It seemed a shame to waste such an impressive individual effort, but at least the play Dainius Zubrus made to set up the Devils’ shorthanded goal on Sunday night got them one point in the playoff race.

With Tom Kostopoulos in the penalty box early in the third period and the Devils down by a goal, 2-1, Zubrus skated through the neutral zone with some strong skating and stickhandling.

He took the puck behind the net before feeding defenseman Mark Fayne for a wrist shot that produced the tying goal. It was the Devils’ league-leading 10th shorthanded goal this season.

“I had good legs. I knew we were a goal behind,” Zubrus said. “I just tried to make a play and it turned out all right. That was a big goal for us.”

Fayne was amazed.

“It’s pretty amazing when a guy can draw four or five guys when he’s killing a penalty. It’s good to have him back,” Fayne said of Zubrus. “He’s a horse out there. When you saw him flying around you knew nobody was going to be able to step up and stop him. Once I saw the third and fourth guys go over to him I knew there was a little open area. He made a great play finding me and I just tried to get it to the net.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.08.2013

668805 New Jersey Devils

Devils' losing streak continues in 3-2 shootout loss to Sabres

Rich Chere

The Star-Ledger

April 07, 2013 at 10:24 PM, updated April 08, 2013 at 12:32 AM

BUFFALO, N.Y. — TThe last time the Devils lost seven games in a row — 27 years ago — Martin Brodeur was a 13-year-old kid in Montreal who had not yet even begun his junior hockey career.

He is now one month shy of his 41st birthday and can only hope that a chance at playing in his 18th Stanley Cup playoffs isn’t fading away.

The Devils, who fell to the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, in a shootout Sunday night at First Niagara Center, picked up a point and are now technically in ninth place while tied with the Winnipeg Jets at 40 points.

But with a 0-3-4 record on their current skid, the club’s first seven-game losing streak since Jan. 24-Feb. 5, 1986, the level of concern is rising.

"It’s high. It’s really concerning that we can’t win," Brodeur said. "We played one of the teams that we should beat. I thought we deserved to beat them the way we played. But you don’t get goals for hanging onto the puck for 25 minutes a game. We drained them but we couldn't take advantage of it."

The Devils are 2-7 in shootouts, a possible extra seven points left unclaimed.

"Last year (12-4), we lived on it and this year it’s really hurting us," coach Pete DeBoer said. "It’s frustrating. I was proud of our effort and how hard we worked. But again, we leave points on the table."

If there were bonuses for time of possession and scoring chances, the Devils would have routed the Sabres and several other opponents in recent games.

"We were in their zone and just grinded them down," Steve Sullivan said. "We played in their end doing the right thing getting shots on net. You get 39 shots on net, you have to be able to finish off the game."

Sullivan, acquired at Wednesday’s trade deadline, tied the game, 1-1, when he converted a Steve Bernier centering pass into a power-play goal late in the opening period.

It was Sullivan’s first for the Devils since Feb. 15, 1997, during a 4-1 victory in Montreal. He went 16 years and 51 days between goals for the Devils.

The Devils came from behind again in the third period when defenseman Mark Fayne scored their league-leading 10th shorthanded goal after an impressive display of stick-handling and skating by Dainius Zubrus made it possible.

But when neither team scored in overtime and it came down to another shootout, the Devils were in trouble.

"We try to take the negative things out of our heads," Brodeur said. "Especially when you’re in the heat of it. If you start thinking like that, it’s not the right way of thinking."

Brodeur stopped Tyler Ennis at the start. Sullivan stepped up first for the Devils but was stopped by Ryan Miller.

"I still get nervous every time I go," Sullivan said. "It’s a new goalie and your team is counting on you. Marty only lets in one goal. We should be able to score one and at least extend it, if not get a couple. It’s disappointing not getting that extra point.

"I tried to freeze him, but he was so aggressive coming out of the net he kind of froze me a little bit with a fake poke check and it threw me off a little bit. I took it to the backhand, thought I could get there quicker than he could and he made a good blocker save."

Nathan Gerbe scored for the Sabres, but it was enough as Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac made it 0-for-3 for the visitors.

"(Gerbe) kind of pulled it and went on my glove side," Brodeur said. "One goal was the difference. You need to be perfect, I guess."

All three games between the Devils and Sabres this season have gone to shootouts, with Buffalo winning twice.

With nine games remaining, was one point enough?

"No, it’s not," Zubrus said. "We need two points."

Brodeur was surely unaware of the Devils’ last seven-game losing streak, when even goalie coach Chris Terreri was not yet out of college.

"Same result," Brodeur said. "We played a good hockey game again. It came to a shootout and we couldn’t score. They scored one and that’s it. It’s tough to take. Every game seems to be the same story. We’re getting a point but at this stage a point is not enough. We need to get two."

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.08.2013

668806 New Jersey Devils

As they play: Devils vs. Sabres at Buffalo

Rich Chere

The Star-Ledger

April 07, 2013 at 7:14 PM, updated April 07, 2013 at 10:15 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Devils coach Pete DeBoer shook up his team for tonight's meeting with the Sabres at First Niagara Center.

Martin Brodeur made his ninth straight start in goal. Ryan Miller was in goal for the Sabres.

Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt D'Agostini, Peter Harrold and Henrik Tallinder were Devils scratches.

Travis Zajac and Patrik Elias each wore an 'A.'

Devils' lines:

Patrik Elias- Travis Zajac- Steve Sullivan

Adam Henrique- Andrei Loktionov- David Clarkson

Dainius Zubrus- Jacob Josefson- Steve Bernier

Ryan Carter- Stephen Gionta- Tom Kostopoulos

Devils' defense pairings:

Bryce Salvador-Mark Fayne

Andy Greene-Adam Larsson

Anton Volchenkov-Marek Zidlicky

SHOOTOUT

Tyler Ennis misses

Sullivan backhander is stopped

Gerbe scores for a 1-0 Buffalo lead

Elias held the puck and Miller made a pad save

Steve Ott is robbed by Brodeur as he came sliding out

Zajac stopped.

OVERTIME

Devils outshot the Sabres, 39-26.

THIRD PERIOD

Devils started the period with 22 seconds remaining on their power play.

Ott was sent off for high-sticking Josefson at 1:42. That's how Josefson lost (and swallowed) a front tooth at Albany.

Larsson was on the point with Greene during the power play. The Sabres killed off the penalty and went on a power play when Kostopoulos was called for hooking at 4:33.

The Devils tied it with a shorthanded goal at 5:46, their league-leading 10th of the season. Zubrus weaved through the neutral zone and then the offensive zone, going behind the net before sending it out to Fayne. The defenseman beat Miller with a long wrist shot for his first goal of the season.

Marcus Foligno was called for tripping Salvador in the corner at 10:33.

Sabres defenseman Mike Weber fell along the end boards at 15:14 and his stick clipped Clarkson in the face for a high-sticking penalty. But Zajac was called for roughing Myers at 16:06 to shorten the power play.

Ott knocked Zubrus down with a hit near the Buffalo bench at 18:15.

Henrique exchanged shoves with Christian Ehrhoff with 30 seconds left.

The Devils were outshooting the Sabres, 37-22.

End of period: Devils 2, Sabres 2

SECOND PERIOD

Mocks cheers as the Sabres once again have trouble getting the puck out of their own end.

Zajac took an interference penalty at 4:31.

Miller made a save on an Elias shot at 8:46. Clarkson's backhander on the rebound missed the net.

Clarkson was knocked down on a hit by John Scott as the Devils' winger carried the puck in the offensive zone.

Bernier, alone in front, was stopped by Miller.

The Sabres did not waste their chance at 13:44 when Steve Ott took a pass from Cody Hodgson and roofed a shot from between the hash marks in the slot.

Scott (6-8, 270 pounds) was sent off for roughing Gionta (5-7, 185) along the boards at 18:22.

Kaleta knocked Zajac down with a hit at 19:30.\

The Devils were outshooting the Sabres, 24-15.

End of period: Sabres 2, Devils 1

FIRST PERIOD

The Sabres struck first at 4:22 when Greene's pass up the middle was intercepted by Jochen Hecht. Patrick Kaleta cut across the deep slot and took Hecht's pass, redirecting the puck inside the right post for his first goal of the season.

Greene's partner, Larsson, turned the puck over at 6:52 with a pass in his own end. Mark Pysyk kept it in the zone and it took a save from Brodeur to stop Adam Pardy.

Miller made a glove save on Clarkson's shot from the right circle at 9:22.

Brodeur stopped Nathan Gerbe's one-timer from the right circle at 12:21.

A Sabres turnover at 12:57 was grabbed by Clarkson in the offensive zone. He set up Loktionov, whose shot was stopped by Miller.

After keeping the puck in the offensive zone for two full minutes, the Devils nearly scored. However, Sullivan couldn't get a clean shot on a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle with 2:06 left and his shot hit the side of the net.

Kevin Porter was called for cross-checking at 18:15 to give the Devils a power play.

It took the Devils 15 seconds to tie the game with a power play goal. Bernier stole the puck from Tyler Myers behind the net and centered a pass for Sullivan in front. The newly-acquired veteran scored his first goal for the Devils this season at 18:20.

Sullivan's goal, his sixth of the season, was his first for the Devils since Feb. 15, 1997, during a 4-1 victory in Montreal. Brodeur was the Devils' goalie in that game, too. Sullivan went 16 years and 51 days between goals for the Devils.

The Devils outshot the Sabres, 10-4.

End of period: Devils 1, Sabres 1

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.08.2013

668807 New Jersey Devils

Devils' Lou Lamoriello: Ilya Kovalchuk will begin skating soon

Rich Chere

The Star-Ledger

April 07, 2013 at 6:18 PM, updated April 07, 2013 at 7:02 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said today "it won't be very long" before Ilya Kovalchuk starts skating.

Kovalchuk has been sidelined since injuring his right shoulder Mar. 23 when he crashed into the end boards in a home game against the Florida Panthers. He could begin skating some time this week.

The Devils are 0-3-3 without Kovalchuk.

"The silver lining is it's not like we're not creating chances," coach Pete DeBoer said of the team's trouble scoring goals. "We're outshooting teams most night. Outchancing teams. We're getting a handful of gade A chances.

"If we were going 60 minutes and not creating anything I would be very very concerned. I'm still concerned, obviously, because we're not putting the puck in the net. We just have to stick with it."

DeBoer added: "The guys are doing what we ask them to do. They're executing the game plan. For the most part we've been solid defensively and we've been creating chances offensively. You want to reward the guys with a win for that. The guys need a win, two points, because it reinforces what they're doing.

"They haven't strayed but there is a natural reaction when you do all those things well and you don't win, to step out of the box a little bit. That never works."

Center Travis Zajac, who missed so much time last season with Achilles tendon problems even after surgery, said he has been pain-free this season.

"I truly haven't felt anything," Zajac said. "I wasn't sure if with this many games in a short period of time would affect it, but it hasn't. I didn't really know what to expect, but I knew I had a good offseason where I got a lot of time to strengthen it. Coming in it felt great and it still feels good now. So I think that is behind me."

Zajac knew he could have recovered from the Achilles tendon tear and surgery sufficiently to play on it, but he might feel it at various points for the remainder of his career.

"I definitely thought about that. Coming into this year knowing I felt good from the start and the fact I still feel good, it's now out of my head," Zajac said.

Zajac wore an 'A' along with Patrik Elias tonight.

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.08.2013

668808 New Jersey Devils

Devils shake up lineup: Jacob Josefson, Adam Larsson to face Sabres

Rich Chere

The Star-Ledger

April 07, 2013 at 5:51 PM, updated April 07, 2013 at 7:12 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Devils coach Pete DeBoer shook up his lineup for tonight's meeting with the Sabres in an attempt to end a six-game losing streak.

Center Jacob Josefson and right winger Tom Kostopoulos will be in the lineup at First Niagara Center while Alexei Ponikarovsky and Matt D'Agostini will come out.

On defense, Adam Larsson will play his first game since Mar. 30 and Anton Volcehnkov will also be in the lineup. Henrik Tallinder and Peter Harrold will be scratches.

"Mostly for fresh legs. This is our third game in four nights," DeBoer said. "But we need to change some things up. We need a spark. We're in a little bit of a rut here."

The Devils are 0-3-3 in their last six games and out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The Devils' lines will be: Elias-Zajac-Sullivan; Henrique-Loktionov-Clarkson; Zubrus-Josefson-Bernier; Carter-Gionta-Kostopoulos.

Josefson doesn’t have a locker stall in the Devils’ dressing room back in New Jersey, but he has a spot in the lineup.

“It is what it is. Too many guys. I guess I’m the youngest one so I’m in the other locker room,” Josefson said with a smile.

Josefson was recalled from Albany (AHL) for the second time this season on Friday.

“Last time I was here I don’t think I played the way I wanted to play,” Josefson said. “My confidence wasn’t at the top. I went down and worked on that part. It’s a lot better now. I’m excited to be back.”

Why would he lack confidence?

“Maybe because I didn’t play too good. It was nagging on me a little bit,” he said. “I was down there for a little while and I feel more comfortable. My confidence is back.”

So is his health. Josefson was hit in the head by a shot while playing for Albany and suffered a concussion. It was a longer road back than he expected, but he is fully recovered.

“I’m not worried about that,” Josefson said. “I actually thought it would be way shorter. I got a little dizzy and my balance wasn’t that good right after. I had a few days off and then I started working out. I got dizzy and started (vomiting) again so I needed a few extra days. Now I feel 100 percent.”

He also lost a tooth, which he swallowed when he was high-sticked in the mouth. Josefson joked that he’s competing with teammate Mattias Tedenby, who suffered a skate cut to the right side of his face and needed more than 100 stitches.

“He’s an inspiration for me,” Josefson said with a grin.

He doesn’t feel any added pressure in having to give the Devils a spark.

“It’s a team game. Everybody has to fill in,” he said. “When you haven’t won in a few games you try some different stuff. I’m excited to be back in the lineup.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.08.2013

668809 New Jersey Devils

Devils notes: No timetable on Kovalchuk

Tom Gulitti

Monday, April 8, 2013

The Record

Still rehabbing

Right wing Ilya Kovalchuk continues to rehab his right shoulder injury, but general manager Lou Lamoriello said there is no schedule yet for him to begin skating.

"It's whenever," Lamoriello said. "No timetable."

Kovalchuk has missed seven games since being injured March 23 against Florida.

Welcome back

Steve Sullivan's first-period power-play goal, which tied the game at 1, was his first since he was reacquired in Wednesday's trade with Phoenix.

Sullivan was more concerned about the four other power plays the Devils failed to convert on later in the game, though.

"We got a couple of shots through, but we've got to be able to finish hockey games," he said. "We had a lot more power-play opportunities that I think we should have been able to connect.

"The power play should have been the difference-maker in the hockey game tonight."

Changing times

Trying anything to change his team's luck, Devils coach Pete DeBoer shook up his lineup, inserting four players who didn't play in Saturday's 2-1 home loss to Toronto.

On defense, he put in Adam Larsson and Anton Volchenkov in place of Henrik Tallinder and Peter Harrold. Up front, Jacob Josefson and Tom Kostopoulos replaced Alexei Ponikarovsky and Matt D'Agostini.

"We need to change some things up," DeBoer explained. "We need a spark. That's the bottom line. It's one of the first times this year we've been healthy enough that we've got people we can shuffle in and out of the lineup. It's our third game in four nights and we're in a little bit of a rut here and, hopefully, this jump-starts us."

Bergen Record LOADED: 04.08.2013

668810 New Jersey Devils

Devils fall to Sabres, 3-2, in shootout

Tom Gulitti

Sunday, April 7, 2013 Last updated: Monday April 8, 2013, 12:16 AM

The Record

BUFFALO, N.Y. – One point wasn’t enough.

Not for the Devils in the situation they are in right now with nine games left in a season that is snowballing over them while Ilya Kovalchuk remains out with right shoulder injury.

Their losing streak is now seven games after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night at First Niagara Center. Buffalo’s Nathan Gerbe beat goaltender Martin Brodeur to the glove side for the only goal of the tiebreaker as the Devils fell to 2-7 in the shootout this season – 0-6 on the road.

It is the Devils’ first seven-game losing streak (0-3-4) since Jan. 24-Feb. 8, 1986.

“Frustrating,” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. “I was proud of how hard we worked, but again we leave points on the table. There’s been too many of those.”

The point pulled the Devils into a tiewith Winnipeg for ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two behind the eighth-place Islanders and the seventh-place Rangers with only nine regular-season games remaining.

But, facing the prospect of missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, the Devils needed to get two points against a Sabres team that traded away captain Jason Pominville and defensemen Jordan Leopold and Robyn Regehr before Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline and were missing leading scorer Thomas Vanek due to injury.

The Devils have lost all seven games they’ve played since Kovalchuk was injured March 23 against Florida — three of them in shootouts.

“It’s really concerning that we can’t just win and that’s the bottom line,” Brodeur said. “We played one of the teams that we should beat. I thought we deserved to beat them the way we played. But, you know what? At the end of the day, you don’t get goals for hanging on to the puck for 25 minutes a game. We drained them, but we just couldn’t take advantage of it.”

With their relentless forecheck, the Devils spent much of the night in the Buffalo end to the point the home fans began to cheer when the Sabres were finally able to get out of their own end. They outshot the Sabres, 39-26 — just like Boston in their 1-0 loss Thursday and Toronto in their 2-1 home loss Saturday – but couldn’t score an even-strength goal.

“We’ve got to score 5-on-5,” DeBoer said. “You’ve still got to score more than two goals. Our 5-on-5 goal production all year has been an issue. We’re generating chances and shots and opportunities, but we’re just not finishing like we need to.”