The Sports Corner

Injured Devils starting to burn

It’s the most unpredictable part of sports, but injuries do happen.

It might occur at an important time of the season to the most important player, or it can take down multiple victims in a quick time span.

Unfortunately, both seems to be happening to the New Jersey Devils.

These man-games lost can make or break a season - as seen last year with the Vancouver Canucks - and this time around, the Devils are feeling the brunt of the injury bug.

The biggest hit to their squad was between the pipes as all-star goaltender Martin Brodeur is getting ready for elbow surgery after going down in a November 2 game. Without their force in net for the next three to four months, New Jersey seems like a much more vulnerable team.

And over the years, they have been very lucky when it comes to injuries to Brodeur, as the workhorse almost seemed invincible. Prior to the injury, the Devils had only won three games since the 1993-94 season with another goaltender. Three games.

For now, Kevin Weekes will have to man that legendary crease.

If losing the face of the franchise is not bad enough, the Devils offense has also taken a hit as their two highest-profile offseason acquisitions are also paying a visit to the injured reserve list. Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik have both been out since the latter half of October, as Rolston is suffering from a sprained ankle while Holik broke his pinkie.

November hasn’t been a great month so far either in terms of injuries, as defensemen Bryce Salvador (left foot), right winger Brian Gionta (head and shoulder), and defensemen Paul Martin (upper body) are all day-to-day.

If that’s not enough, other Devils sitting out are Andy Greene (broken hand), Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (broken nose), and Barry Tallackson (irregular heartbeat).

It’s obviously not a healthy heaven for the “satanic” squad.

With all these casualties mounting up, the stats are beginning to drop as New Jersey has now lost three of their last four and six of their last eight, including a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers Monday night.

Things are starting to go downhill for these potential cup contenders, but they’ll have to find a way to overcome the injuries.

If not, the Devils better start praying for faster recoveries.