More injuries down Devils in shootout

The suddenly injury riddled New Jersey Devils lost two more players to the bench in the first period and despite being two players down,the team really outplayed the Ottawa Senators and battled back twice from deficits.
After all of that though,the games came down to another one of those damn skills competitions and Ottawa took a 3-2 win in the Canadian Capital.
Andrei Loktionov (6) and Marek Zidlicky (4) ripped the net for New Jersey,who now travels to Florida for back to back games against the Lightning and Panthers..

Hell Raisers

1)  As disappointed as I am with the loss,I cannot be totally displeased with a point on the road against a good team.
The Devils played well and the defense was strong,especially considering that they played most of the game a man down with the absence of Bryce Salvador.
Two points was not in the cards,but the effort was and that will have to continue.

2) I hate the shootout.
Oh,it's exciting and fun to watch,but on nights like this one,it just feels wrong to decide a game in such a manner.
For its pluses,the NHL truly looks like a minor league deciding games like this.....

3) Big overtime swing when David Clarkson was cut early by a high stick and no call was made.
What should have been a four minute four on three never occurred and hampered the hopes of a Devils win....

4) The injuries to Bryce Salvador and Stephen Gionta put both the defensemen and forwards in for a long night as guys needed to take extra shifts.
No word on the extent of the injuries,but Salvador will likely be replaced in the lineup by either Henrik Tallinder or Mark Fayne.
Defense is the one spot of depth for the team right now,so those would be the natural choice..

5) If the Stephen Gionta injury is a longer term,the story would be different.
The already ailing team recalled Harri Pesonen from Albany,so if I had to guess,the callup might be Jacob Josefson....

6) I really like Andrei Loktionov.
I didn't know much about him when he was brought in from Los Angeles,but his game is rougher than expected,he's willing to muck around the net,yet he has skills as well.
I would endorse the team keeping the restricted free agent in the off season.

7) Marek Zidlicky has many flaws,but his slick moves in scoring his goal last night showed his good side.
With the team lacking in firepower,players like Zidlicky will need to be creative in filling some of those voids...