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Kovalchuk off to slow start in Newark Print
Atlantic
Written by Denis Gorman   
Sunday, February 14, 2010 00:00
Atlantic Division notebook:

The beginning of the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk era has been more sputtering than speeding.

The Devils are 2-3-1 in six games since acquiring Kovalchuk from Atlanta. The left wing earned the respect of his teammates in a 3-1 loss against the Rangers on Feb. 6 by going after über-pest Sean Avery.

But even though the Devils acquired the Russian sniper for his hands, it wasn’t for his ability to throw them. Rather, it is his transcendent goal-scoring touch that attracted general manager Lou Lamoriello and head coach Jacques Lemaire. They're still waiting for the 26-year-old UFA to realize his potential — Kovalchuk didn't score a goal for his new team until a 5-2 win Friday over the Nashville Predators.

"It was kind of a welcome goal," said Kovalchuk, whose goal was so welcome that hats rained down from the Prudential Center afterwards, two goals shy of a hat trick.

In other Devils news:

Despite Wednesday’s blizzard in the Northeast, 5,580 hearty souls trekked to Newark for the back half of the home-and-home with Philadelphia on Wednesday. ... Asked if he was bothered that the Flyers’ Jeff Carter was not penalized for a shoulder check to the head of defenseman Anssi Salmela Monday night, Lemaire said that “Jamie (Langenbrunner) came to see me and he said it was no elbow, which I thought at first. I looked at it, it was not. So… now it’s up to the one that makes the rules.” Salmela suffered a concussion, broken nose and lost several teeth that night according to his agent, Jay Grossman, via Twitter. ... Zach Parise was scratched from Wednesday’s game with an “upper body injury" but played the next two games, scoring a goal in each.

NEW YORK RANGERS

That the Rangers dropped a 2-1 decision to Nashville on Wednesday was the least of the schizophrenic Blueshirts’ issues this week. During Tuesday’s practice at the MSG Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York, Henrik Lundqvist inadvertently kicked Marian Gaborik near the knee with his skate during a drill. John Tortorella called the cut “a pretty nasty gash” Wednesday, and Gaborik missed that night's game against Nashville. ... The Rangers announced Thursday that the organization had placed Donald Brashear on waivers, shortly before acquiring tough guy Jody Shelley from the Sharks. … TSN reported that Edmonton Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray would be willing to be traded to the Rangers.  

PHILADELPHIA

A week that began with a trade, the announcement of the re-broadcast of the season's best Flyers games, and consecutive wins over a division rival was overshadowed by a controversial hit. Winger Jeff Carter’s shoulder-check to the head of Devils’ defenseman Anssi Salmela, a split-second after Salmela released a shot that got past Philly netminder Michael Leighton, has been the subject of debate. Was it dirty? Was it intentional? Depends who you ask. Carter professed his innocence to CSN Philadelphia, having said, “He was driving wide, I’m coming back. I saw the replay – I got him right in the shoulder. Apparently he’s OK, which is a good thing, but, I mean, I’m not a dirty player. I’ve never been suspended. I rarely hit, so it’s unfortunate that he got hurt, I’m glad he was all right. That’s just not my game.” Carter was not penalized on the play and was not disciplined by the league. The Flyers came back to beat the Devils, 3-2. … The Flyers acquired touted Red Wings prospect Ville Leino for defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a 2011 fifth round draft pick. “Ville is a skilled forward that is going to give us some depth. I think he has the ability to play up and down our lineup and play with our skilled players. We're excited to have him. He'll join our team hopefully sometime today," GM Paul Holmgren said in a prepared statement. … Comcast Sports will rebroadcast the Flyers' four best games — as determined by the network — during the Olympic Break. … The Flyers and checking center Blair Betts agreed to a two-year extension Friday morning.   

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

One of the NHL’s best feel-good stories this season is in the midst of what could be a season-altering slump. The Islanders have been outscored 33-14 while losing eight of 10. The team’s losing streak coincides with John Tavares’ individual scoring plunge. The top overall pick in last June’s draft has 17 goals and 34 points this season, but has not scored a goal in 13 games. Still, The Hockey News recently opined that Tavares is the “most important rookie” in the league.

 
PITTSBURGH

There are losses and then there are losses. For the Penguins, their 5-4 loss to Washington on Super Bowl Sunday, in front of a national TV audience and in their hated rival’s house was the latter. The Pens had a 4-2 lead going into the third period, only to be torched by Alex Ovechkin for two of his three goals. With the game tied at 4 in OT, the Pens were on the PK due to a Brooks Orpik high-stick and subsequent game misconduct, when Mike Knuble jammed an Ovechkin rebound under Marc-Andre Fleury’s pads for the game-winner. ... Orpik ripped Washington wing Alex Semin following the loss. Semin was the Cap who drew the high-stick. “He does it all the time. The kid’s a baby. He does it all game long. I’ve got zero respect for the kid.” … The Pens bounced back with an unimpressive 3-1 home win over the Islanders. Fleury told reporters that he “thought about” fighting Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson in the first period because Roloson appeared to want to scrap with Penguins forward Mike Rupp. “Those are my guys out there,” Fleury added. 

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Last Updated on Monday, February 15, 2010 09:04