Anssi Salmela and Devils D Hope to Shut Down Penguins Crosby


Devs eye shutting down Crosby, Pens
Mark Everson The New York Post March 12, 2010

That defense, widely regarded as the team’s weak link, will be tested again tonight when Olympic champ Sidney Crosby and the Stanley Cup champion Penguins visit Newark, seeking their first victory in five tries against the Devils this season….

Colin White, Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, Mike Mottau, Anssi Salmela, Mark Fraser and deadline acquisition Martin Skoula are Lou Lamoriello’s final product this season, until Paul Martin finally returns from his broken arm in another 7-10 days.

“They can [win a Cup], but they will have to play at their best. They’ll have to compensate in other ways for what they can’t do,” Lemaire said of his defense….

Yet something cumulative is going on, they say, the sum being greater than the parts.

“Individually, we’re not going to ‘Wow’ anyone, but there’s an intangible we have,” said Mottau, determinedly soldiering on, manning the more difficult and thankless right side Lamoriello failed to fill and no one else wants, enduring the painful criticism that comes.

Additional Reading: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devils/ready_for_test_Psa5xHGTGKuA83JG7XJwvM