Joe may give it a go

Nieuwendyk to skate Saturday morning in hopes of playing

Joe Nieuwendyk hasn't played since getting hurt in the first period of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. Brian Bahr/Getty Images/NHLI

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Devils forward Joe Nieuwendyk, who has missed the Stanley Cup finals with a hip-related injury, will skate before Game 6 against Anaheim on Saturday night and hopes to play.

Nieuwendyk tried skating before the Devils' practice Wednesday, but was pulled off the ice after 25 minutes when it became obvious he wasn't ready.

Nieuwendyk has been undergoing treatment for the injury and is ready to take another shot at playing. The Devils lead the Mighty Ducks 3-2 and could win the Stanley Cup on Saturday night.

"Again, I'm still day-to-day," Nieuwendyk said Friday night. "I'm planning on taking the warmup and see how I feel and I'll take it from there."

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Coach Pat Burns was discouraged when Nieuwendyk wasn't ready to play earlier in the week, but he sounded more optimistic Friday. The Devils would especially like to use Nieuwendyk on faceoffs, which the Mighty Ducks dominated during the first four games.

Nieuwendyk ranked among the NHL faceoff leaders by winning 58 percent of his draws during the season.

"I'm not going to stop him, that's for sure," Burns said. "If he feels fine, I'm not going to stop him. ... If he can skate, warm up and he's ready, I'll play him for sure."

Even if he finds out he's still not ready, Nieuwendyk said he can't get too down if he has to sit out the finals.

"It's been difficult but, if we do win, I certainly will be able to handle having not played," he said. "It's frustrating, no question. I've done all I can. We've done all the treatments, we've done everything we can do and it hasn't responded the way I had hoped it would. I can't feel bad about that."

Nieuwendyk had 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points in 80 games during the season, when he had only two goals in his first 29 games. He has three goals and six assists in 17 playoff games, but hasn't played since Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Ottawa on May 23.

Nieuwendyk said it's been "nerve racking" as the Devils have gotten close to winning the Cup without him being able to contribute during the finals.

"If you don't have the nerves and butterflies at this time of year, you're not feeling it," he said. "And I certainly feel it, even though I'm not playing. I can imagine how the guys are feeling."

 

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