Devils sticking with Schneider against Senators

Thursday, 04.10.2014 / 1:57 PM

By Sean Farrell - NHL.com Correspondent / 2013-2014 At the Rink Blog

E-mail

OTTAWA -- New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider will make his fifth straight start Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.

Both teams have been eliminated from contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. New Jersey's faint hopes were dashed Wednesday when both the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets became the final Eastern Conference teams to secure playoff spots.

"You invest six months of work into a team and into a group and when you don't accomplish what you set out to accomplish it's tough, it's like the air getting let out of a balloon," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said after the team's morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre. "I don't have another description for it."

Three-time Stanley Cup champion Martin Brodeur was disappointed about New Jersey missing the playoffs for a second straight season after leading the Devils to the Final in 2012, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.

"I didn't miss the playoffs once in 16 years, 17 years, when I started and now it's been three times out of four years so definitely it gets frustrating a little bit," Brodeur said. "You don't have many chances to win Stanley Cups at my age so you want to at least get into the dance, and now three out of four years we haven't done that here."

It remains to be seen when and if Brodeur will play his next game for New Jersey. DeBoer would not discuss his goalie plans for the Devils' final two home games, Friday against the New York Islanders, and Sunday against the Boston Bruins.

The 41-year-old Brodeur has made 37 starts this season compared to Schneider's 42 and counting. Brodeur, the NHL's all-time leader in goalie games played (1,257), wins (687) and shutouts (124), will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

"This organization means everything to me," Brodeur said. "I'm always going to be a Devil, regardless of what the future will bring me, and we'll see what the future brings. You know I've got a lot of things to take under consideration before I make a decision, so we'll see this summer."

Ottawa left wing Colin Greening returns Thursday after missing six games because of a lower-body injury. Senators goalie Robin Lehner will start for the second time in three games.

Here are the probable Devils and Senators lineups:

DEVILS

Tuomo Ruutu - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr

Damien Brunner - Patrik Elias - Mike Sislo

Tim Sestito - Dainius Zubrus - Michael Ryder

Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier

Andy Greene - Mark Fayne

Adam Larsson - Anton Volchenkov

Jon Merrill - Marek Zidlicky

Cory Schneider

Martin Brodeur

Scratched: Peter Harrold, Eric Gelinas