Trip to Florida is a real homecoming for Devils’ Ilya Kovalchuk
Richard Chere The Star Ledger April 7, 2010
With the pressure of the Stanley Cup playoffs less than a week away, Ilya Kovalchuk got to relax with his young family at their condo in Florida.
After the Devils’ 3-0 victory in Atlanta Tuesday night, Kovalchuk got permission from general manager Lou Lamoriello to fly to Florida with his mother, Luba, instead of taking the team’s charter.
He spent Tuesday night at his Fisher Island home with his wife, Nicole, and their three children– Karolina, Philipp and newborn Artem. Kovalchuk then made the one hour drive to Wednesday’s afternoon practice at the BankAtlantic Center.
“The schedule was perfect,” Kovalchuk said. “I flew from Atlanta with my mom after the game so she wouldn’t have to stay an extra night. I was at home last night, I drove to practice today and I’m going to go back now. Very nice.