May 22, 2012, New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils Game 4 Eastern Conference Final notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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SCOTT LEVY/NHLI/GETTY IMAGES
Dubinsky, right, hopes to return soon, but is putting no timetable on it.
Devils coach Pete DeBoer hinted at lineup changes Sunday morning.
He made it abundantly clear Monday morning that he made modifications to the Devils’ lineup.
Dainius Zubrus replaced Ilya Kovalchuk as the Devils’ top line right
wing for Monday night’s Game 4. Kovalchuk skated on the second line with
Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias, while Jacob Josefson replaced Petr
Sykora in the lineup.
Last night’s game was Josefson’s first game action since suffering a
broken wrist in the Devils’ 3-1 win over the Islanders on April 3.
“Sykora's out and Josefson is in,” DeBoer said during his morning
availability. “I had a brief conversation with [Josefson] yesterday. [I]
basically [told him to] bring us some energy [and] play like you did
the last three, four weeks of the season. He's had a tough year between
the injuries and the adversity, really over the last two years. I really
felt the last two, three weeks of the season he had re-found his game
and his confidence. If we can get a version of that player in the lineup
tonight, we'll be a better team.”
DeBoer said the decision to make the lineup alterations had to do with
the Devils having been shutout, 3-0, in Game 3 despite outshooting the
Rangers, 36-22.
“It was tough to shake things up in that I felt we played a solid game,”
DeBoer said. “What pushed me in this direction is just the availability
of another very good player in Josefson. He hadn't been available up
until this point. So he's available. It's tough decisions when you're
sitting out Sykora, who has played well for us this year and scored some
goals. But those are the decisions we have to make.”
Prust change still open
Rangers head coach John Tortorella did not tip his hand regarding who
would replace the suspended Brandon Prust in the lineup for Game 4
during his media availability Monday morning.
“I don’t know what my lineup is,” Tortorella said.
Stu Bickel, who was replaced in the lineup by Steve Eminger for Game 3, dressed last night.
Tortorella said he had “no update” on the condition of Brandon Dubinsky.
Dubinsky injured his right foot during the Eastern Conference
quarterfinal series against Ottawa. He missed the entirety of the
seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series against Washington and
the first three games of the Eastern Conference finals.
Dubinsky has been skating with the Rangers, and began to participate in contact drills.
“Nice to be back with the guys; nice to shoot some pucks at the goalie.
It just feels good to be around,” Dubinsky said after Sunday’s practice
at the Garden. When asked for his status, Dubinsky said he was going to
follow Tortorella’s rules again: “No timeline.”
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1143721--rangers-notebook-devils-lineup-changes-dubinsky-practices
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:23 PM
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