I think $100 million man Ilya Kovalchuk made a big mistake last night in Pittsburgh when he said "I think we're done" when asked about the Devils' playoff chances. Now, Kovalchuk is certainly right. The Devils' 1-3-1 slide has basically ended their hopes, leaving them 10 points behind the Sabres with eight to play. It was a great run as they cut a 27-point deficit to six.
Still, I'm not of the ilk that any player -- let alone the big-money star -- should run up the white flag. Speaking to Devils' beat reporters prior to tonight's game, New Jersey coach Jacques Lemaire clearly understood both sides to the argument but said he sympathized with Kovalchuk too
"You've got to be realistic," Lemaire said. "If Buffalo would lose their goalie the rest of the season and they would lose (Tyler) Myers, (Jason) Pominville and (Derek) Roy. If they were all at the hospital, maybe you would have a chance. I won't say we're done, but I will say it will be tough. It gets tougher and tougher."
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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