NJD vs NYR
Posted on April 11, 2008 02:14 PM | Permalink
Devils winger Brian Gionta says he'll play tonight. But if he plays the way he has played in the previous nine games against the Rangers this season, it might not matter.
While there are plenty of top-end Devils who don't have much to show for their many encounters with Henrik Lundqvist this season, Gionta has been utterly shut out by the Rangers' goaltender. Just two seasons removed from a 48-goal season, Gionta only managed 22 this year -- and none came in any of the eight meetings with the Rangers.
Throw in his being kept off the scoresheet -- in addition to being battered and bruised -- in Wednesday night's Game 1 and Gionta goes into tonight's Game 2 with no goals and one assist in nine games against the Rangers in 2007-08.
Gionta had more immediate concerns upon hitting the ice for a brief twirl this morning: He had to prove to coach Brent Sutter that he was up to playing tonight after missing all but a couple of third-period shifts in Game 1 because of an injury (the team is calling it a "sore side") suffered late in the second period.
"I passed it with flying colors," Gionta said of his on-ice fitness test. "I feel good."
Lundqvist looms large over Devils
Now the Devils must figure out a way to solve the riddle that has been Lundqvist throughout this season.
Lundqvist's 26 saves in the Rangers' 4-1 win in Game 1 was merely more of the same after he went 7-0-1 against the Devils during the regular season with a 1.09 goals against average and .956 save percentage, never allowing more than two goals in any game.
Sutter proclaimed confidence that his shooters will find a way to break through. Either that or he was just whistling past the graveyard.
"When pucks hit posts and crossbars, he really doesn't have much to do with that," the Devils' coach said. "And when we miss the net, he doesn't have much to do with that. Yet, he did make some top-end saves.
"He played well for them. I want to give him his credit...We've just got to find a way."
*Both coaches said they were leaning toward going with the same 18-skater lineups they deployed in Game 1. Of course, Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur again will tend goal.
