October 11, 2001 -- They've spent this week smarting. The Devils should have spent it smartening up, too.
Resuming their schedule with their home opener tonight against the Islanders, the Devils have had five full days to stew about losing their season-starter in Washington by five full goals.
"It festers," Scott Stevens growled.
Their pride is hurt. Now referred to as former champs, the Devils must endure hearing how teams like tonight's foe have improved dramatically and can challenge them.
"We've been overshadowed by everybody that made changes," said Martin Brodeur, yanked after two periods of the 6-1 opening night loss. "It's funny how everything has changed around in one year. Everyone got players to go after us, and we've had a slow start - one game."
The one-sidedness of that loss raised doubts about this year's team, and the lengthy layoff gave them no chance to offer contradictory evidence. With Josef Boumedienne returned to Albany yesterday, the Devils have no one in their lineup with a goal this season, and it appears that Pierre Dagenais, their hope to replace Alexander Mogilny, will be scratched tonight.
"It's not time to push the panic button," Stevens said.
It is time to push themselves. A team like Ottawa has five games under its belt.
"It's like we're not part of the league yet," Brodeur said.
The light slate has one benefit: injured players have had time to heal. Brian Rafalski and Randy McKay are expected to join the lineup, although Scott Niedermayer remains idled with a back strain.
Lou Lamoriello said there will be a ceremony to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the World Trade Center attack and honor its victims. The Devils donated their walkup preseason sales to the police and firefighter victims . . . Lamoriello also said the two new banners, as 2001 Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference champs, would be in the rafters and spotlighted tonight . . . Niedermayer skated in practice yesterday for the first time in six days but is not expected to play . . . Devils visit Montreal Saturday.
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NYI --Peca left the game at 1:46 of the third after a high, open-ice collision with Mike Wilson that left the Isles' captain bleeding from the face from a cut that required stitches. It will be determined today if he can play tonight against the Devils
Resuming their schedule with their home opener tonight against the Islanders, the Devils have had five full days to stew about losing their season-starter in Washington by five full goals.
"It festers," Scott Stevens growled.
Their pride is hurt. Now referred to as former champs, the Devils must endure hearing how teams like tonight's foe have improved dramatically and can challenge them.
"We've been overshadowed by everybody that made changes," said Martin Brodeur, yanked after two periods of the 6-1 opening night loss. "It's funny how everything has changed around in one year. Everyone got players to go after us, and we've had a slow start - one game."
The one-sidedness of that loss raised doubts about this year's team, and the lengthy layoff gave them no chance to offer contradictory evidence. With Josef Boumedienne returned to Albany yesterday, the Devils have no one in their lineup with a goal this season, and it appears that Pierre Dagenais, their hope to replace Alexander Mogilny, will be scratched tonight.
"It's not time to push the panic button," Stevens said.
It is time to push themselves. A team like Ottawa has five games under its belt.
"It's like we're not part of the league yet," Brodeur said.
The light slate has one benefit: injured players have had time to heal. Brian Rafalski and Randy McKay are expected to join the lineup, although Scott Niedermayer remains idled with a back strain.
Lou Lamoriello said there will be a ceremony to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the World Trade Center attack and honor its victims. The Devils donated their walkup preseason sales to the police and firefighter victims . . . Lamoriello also said the two new banners, as 2001 Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference champs, would be in the rafters and spotlighted tonight . . . Niedermayer skated in practice yesterday for the first time in six days but is not expected to play . . . Devils visit Montreal Saturday.
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NYI --Peca left the game at 1:46 of the third after a high, open-ice collision with Mike Wilson that left the Isles' captain bleeding from the face from a cut that required stitches. It will be determined today if he can play tonight against the Devils
