DeBoer keeps MSG insults off the record
May, 23, 2012
5/23/12
12:42
PM ET
By Mike Mazzeo | ESPNNewYork.com
NEWARK, N.J. -- Devils coach Peter DeBoer has apparently had some pretty bad insults hurled his way at Madison Square Garden.
Unfortunately, they weren’t PG enough to disclose.
"There’s no language there you can say on the record," DeBoer said Wednesday morning prior to Game 5. "You try and tune that stuff out."
Devils players aren’t as concerned about the crowd as they are about the ice.
Zach Parise called it "choppy" and said there ware a lot of "wacky" bounces off the boards.
"The ice was bad, but it’s the same for both teams," Ilya Kovalchuk said. "I don’t think that should be an excuse for anybody."
As for the ice at Prudential Center, criticized by the Panthers in the first round ...
"It’s hot in our building," Parise said. "But our guys have done a pretty good job of keeping the ice good."
• There won’t be any changes to the Devils’ lineup for Game 5, DeBoer confirmed.
That means Jacob Josefson and Peter Harrold remain in, while Petr Sykora and Adam Larsson remain out.
Sykora and Larsson remained on the ice following the completion of Wednesday’s mandatory morning skate.
• DeBoer has called 21-year-old Adam Henrique "unflappable" throughout the postseason.
No nerves, huh?
"Not once. He might’ve been in a card game with Kovy once and he was nervous," DeBoer joked. "Understandable."
• DeBoer said the turning point for his team was when GM Lou Lamoriello acquired depth up front after the All-Star break.
Lamoriello traded for left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky, while calling up Steve Bernier, who has become a fixture on the fourth line.
And DeBoer obviously didn’t leave out Travis Zajac's return to full health following his Achilles injury.
Unfortunately, they weren’t PG enough to disclose.
"There’s no language there you can say on the record," DeBoer said Wednesday morning prior to Game 5. "You try and tune that stuff out."
Devils players aren’t as concerned about the crowd as they are about the ice.
Zach Parise called it "choppy" and said there ware a lot of "wacky" bounces off the boards.
"The ice was bad, but it’s the same for both teams," Ilya Kovalchuk said. "I don’t think that should be an excuse for anybody."
As for the ice at Prudential Center, criticized by the Panthers in the first round ...
"It’s hot in our building," Parise said. "But our guys have done a pretty good job of keeping the ice good."
• There won’t be any changes to the Devils’ lineup for Game 5, DeBoer confirmed.
That means Jacob Josefson and Peter Harrold remain in, while Petr Sykora and Adam Larsson remain out.
Sykora and Larsson remained on the ice following the completion of Wednesday’s mandatory morning skate.
• DeBoer has called 21-year-old Adam Henrique "unflappable" throughout the postseason.
No nerves, huh?
"Not once. He might’ve been in a card game with Kovy once and he was nervous," DeBoer joked. "Understandable."
• DeBoer said the turning point for his team was when GM Lou Lamoriello acquired depth up front after the All-Star break.
Lamoriello traded for left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky, while calling up Steve Bernier, who has become a fixture on the fourth line.
And DeBoer obviously didn’t leave out Travis Zajac's return to full health following his Achilles injury.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Katie Strang
After spending two seasons as the Islanders beat writer for Newsday, Katie Strang joined ESPN New York to cover the Rangers, Isles and Devils. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
THE 25 GREATEST RANGERS
From Frank Boucher to Henrik Lundqvist, who's the best? Photos 
Rank 'Em »
You must be signed in to post a comment