Elias fine after hit from Greene

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Patrik Elias flew across the country Sunday afternoon as the Devils prepared to play the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night at Staples Center, which could be considered his second long-distance flight in less than 24 hours.

That's because Kings defenseman Matt Greene sent Elias flying during Game 5 on Saturday night.

Elias was carrying the puck down the left side on a 2-on-1 midway through the first period and tried to slide a pass to Dainius Zubrus. The puck missed its target, but Greene did not. He crushed Elias to the ice and into the end boards, leaving the Devils' center in a heap on the ice for several minutes.

"Yeah, I got hit," Elias said. "I went pretty hard into the boards, but I'm OK."

Elias said his back was fine and that he had no problem with the hit.

"I tried to make the pass and was still looking at what was happening with that," Elias said. "I didn't expect to get hit at the end."

Cameras picked up Elias yelling in the direction of the Kings' bench after getting off the ice, but he maintained the hit was above board.

"It was just a little yapping going on back and forth," Elias said. "That's all right."

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