NJ Devils' Dainius Zubrus ready to return from injury despite lack of practice time
Dainius Zubrus will be in the lineup when the Devils visit the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night, coach Jacques Lemaire said after Zubrus made it through the full, 1-hour practice Monday at their practice rink at the Prudential Center.
Zubrus has missed 30 games with a broken kneecap suffered when he was hit by a shot from Nashville?s Kevin Klein in a game Nov. 19. He has been skating for some time and rejoined the team last week, but with the heavy concentration of games, had not been able to get a full practice with his teammates before Monday. Still, Lemaire declared him ready even though he had just the one practice.
?He?s been on the ice quite a bit, he?s been working after the optional (skates) that we?ve had with the guys ? he?s a guy that stays in condition , he?s in good shape,?? Lemaire said.
Besides, Zubrus pointed out, with the games as tightly bunched as they are, the opportunity wasn?t there for him to get many good hard practices in anyway.
?I don?t know when the next one will be," Zubrus said, "because we have three (games) in four nights?? Tuesday night in Ottawa, Wednesday in Buffalo and home Friday against Toronto. ?And then we have another two in three nights ? we play Friday (against Toronto) and Sunday (home, against the L.A. Kings) and after that, again, I?m sure there?s plenty of games. So what, am I going to skate by myself for another week or two???
Lemaire will be happy to get Zubrus? 6-5, 225-pound body back into a lineup that is missing winger Patrik Elias (concussion) and defenseman Paul Martin (broken forearm).
Zubrus, he said, brings ?size, skating, can kill penalties, can play on different lines?? back to the lineup.
Also back at practice was fourth-line center Rod Pelley, who missed the last three games with what the team has called a ?lower body?? injury, which, judging from what Pelley described Monday, sounded like back spasms.
?It?s just something that?s kind of lingered for quite some time,?? Pelley said, without actually revealing what the injury was. ?It?s nothing that keeps you from playing, or anything, but it?s like a bit of tightness and I always just stay on top of it and make sure I?m loose. Some days if you do something a little awkward or whatnot, you could twist it out pretty good.??
Lemaire said the team would likely ?wait?? before returning Pelley to the lineup.
Dainius Zubrus will be in the lineup when the Devils visit the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night, coach Jacques Lemaire said after Zubrus made it through the full, 1-hour practice Monday at their practice rink at the Prudential Center.
Zubrus has missed 30 games with a broken kneecap suffered when he was hit by a shot from Nashville?s Kevin Klein in a game Nov. 19. He has been skating for some time and rejoined the team last week, but with the heavy concentration of games, had not been able to get a full practice with his teammates before Monday. Still, Lemaire declared him ready even though he had just the one practice.
?He?s been on the ice quite a bit, he?s been working after the optional (skates) that we?ve had with the guys ? he?s a guy that stays in condition , he?s in good shape,?? Lemaire said.
Besides, Zubrus pointed out, with the games as tightly bunched as they are, the opportunity wasn?t there for him to get many good hard practices in anyway.
?I don?t know when the next one will be," Zubrus said, "because we have three (games) in four nights?? Tuesday night in Ottawa, Wednesday in Buffalo and home Friday against Toronto. ?And then we have another two in three nights ? we play Friday (against Toronto) and Sunday (home, against the L.A. Kings) and after that, again, I?m sure there?s plenty of games. So what, am I going to skate by myself for another week or two???
Lemaire will be happy to get Zubrus? 6-5, 225-pound body back into a lineup that is missing winger Patrik Elias (concussion) and defenseman Paul Martin (broken forearm).
Zubrus, he said, brings ?size, skating, can kill penalties, can play on different lines?? back to the lineup.
Also back at practice was fourth-line center Rod Pelley, who missed the last three games with what the team has called a ?lower body?? injury, which, judging from what Pelley described Monday, sounded like back spasms.
?It?s just something that?s kind of lingered for quite some time,?? Pelley said, without actually revealing what the injury was. ?It?s nothing that keeps you from playing, or anything, but it?s like a bit of tightness and I always just stay on top of it and make sure I?m loose. Some days if you do something a little awkward or whatnot, you could twist it out pretty good.??
Lemaire said the team would likely ?wait?? before returning Pelley to the lineup.
