John E. Sokolowski-US Presswire
The New Jersey Devils were hoping that a miracle would come in the form of their Russian winger Ilya Kovalchuk tomorrow night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, it appears that their savior is going to need to come in another way.
While Kovalchuk was practicing with the team all week up until this morning, he has maintained that his shoulder is still sore and he is not ready to play. It does not appear that he will accompany the team to Canada. Even though he was not on the ice today with the team, he apparently did skate earlier in the day.
“I don’t think so,” Kovalchuk said in an interview with The Star Ledger after yesterday’s practice at the Devils’ training facility at the Prudential Center. “It doesn’t make much sense. I know our backs are against the wall, but we have to be realistic and smart. I want to be out there as much as anyone in this locker room. But when you go out there you want to produce and help your team.”
Of course, the main fear about pushing Kovalchuk onto the ice before he is completely healed, it that he will cause more damage to the shoulder.
Quite frankly, his insertion back into the lineup may not be the shot in the arm the club thinks it will be. Before his injury on March 23, the team wasn’t exactly on a scoring tear. Goals have been few and far between for the Devils for quite awhile and their power play has struggled all season.
Meanwhile, the coaching staff continues to look for answers to this mind-boggling slump and the players’ frustration grows.
Yesterday the team spent the majority of the practice session working on the hapless power play which is 3 for 33 during this nine game skid.
“We’re looking for some offense,” coach Pete DeBoer explained in The Star Ledger. “That’s going to be the key to win for us. You have to start looking outside the box. Obviously, the effort, execution, team play and keeping the shots to a small amount isn’t enough to get us wins.”
The Devils are one loss away from tying a franchise record that most would like to forget let alone equal.
Dawn Miller is a New Jersey Devils writer for Rant Sports. Follow her on Twitter, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.
