Parise out tonight vs. Toronto
Wednesday, 04.06.2011 / 5:20 PM
/ News
By Eric Marin
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Zach Parise will be out of the lineup for tonight’s matchup with Toronto.
Parise, who returned Saturday after missing 65 games, was scratched from last night’s loss in Pittsburgh.
Jacques Lemaire wouldn’t comment on whether it was simply soreness from the long-term layoff. Parise underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in November.
“He’s just not playing,” said Lemaire.
Parise had two shots in 16:05 of ice time against Montreal. It was his first appearance since Oct. 30.
“What’s important to me is the individual, how he feels,” Lemaire said. “It’s all about how he feels. He feels that he’s ready to go, ready to jump in, he goes in. If he’s got any doubt, someone else can’t change his mind. That’s how it works.”
After tonight, the Devils visit MSG on Saturday afternoon then come home to close out the regular season Sunday against Boston at 3 p.m.
Lemaire wasn't sure if Parise would be back for either contest.
"I don't know," he said. "We'll see."
There is a possibility, though.
"Always a possibility," said Lemaire.
- The Devils and the Maple Leafs have both been eliminated from playoff contention. Though there’s nothing at stake, Lemaire won’t settle for anything less than his team’s best effort.
“We shouldn’t have to sell it,” Lemaire said. “We should not. Every team that is out of the playoffs, they still have to play the best they can. But there’s a sellout you have to make. That’s the nature of [it]. We want them to keep playing the best they can, perform, give a good show. You’re looking at the fans that come here to watch games, they want to see their home team play well. They want to see them win. Why won’t you do your best and play as hard you can?”
- Martin Brodeur will start tonight.
- Colin White and Anton Volchenkov both remain out with lower body injuries. White will miss his sixth straight game, while Volchenkov will be sidelined for the fifth time in the last six.
Parise, who returned Saturday after missing 65 games, was scratched from last night’s loss in Pittsburgh.
Jacques Lemaire wouldn’t comment on whether it was simply soreness from the long-term layoff. Parise underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in November.
“He’s just not playing,” said Lemaire.
Parise had two shots in 16:05 of ice time against Montreal. It was his first appearance since Oct. 30.
“What’s important to me is the individual, how he feels,” Lemaire said. “It’s all about how he feels. He feels that he’s ready to go, ready to jump in, he goes in. If he’s got any doubt, someone else can’t change his mind. That’s how it works.”
After tonight, the Devils visit MSG on Saturday afternoon then come home to close out the regular season Sunday against Boston at 3 p.m.
Lemaire wasn't sure if Parise would be back for either contest.
"I don't know," he said. "We'll see."
There is a possibility, though.
"Always a possibility," said Lemaire.
- The Devils and the Maple Leafs have both been eliminated from playoff contention. Though there’s nothing at stake, Lemaire won’t settle for anything less than his team’s best effort.
“We shouldn’t have to sell it,” Lemaire said. “We should not. Every team that is out of the playoffs, they still have to play the best they can. But there’s a sellout you have to make. That’s the nature of [it]. We want them to keep playing the best they can, perform, give a good show. You’re looking at the fans that come here to watch games, they want to see their home team play well. They want to see them win. Why won’t you do your best and play as hard you can?”
- Martin Brodeur will start tonight.
- Colin White and Anton Volchenkov both remain out with lower body injuries. White will miss his sixth straight game, while Volchenkov will be sidelined for the fifth time in the last six.
