Parise sent home to NJ with lower body injury

LOS ANGELES - Devils left wing Zach Parise was sent back to New Jersey after sustaining an undisclosed lower body injury during his club's 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.

Parise, who scored a team-leading 38 goals with the Devils last season, didn't play in the third period. The injury might have occurred when he was hit on the right knee during a hard check by Kyle Clifford midway through the second period.

His last shift ended with 1:43 remaining in the middle frame.

Parise, who averaged 36.5 goals over the previous four seasons, has three goals and two assists in 11 games. He scored 82 points in 81 games last season and was chosen as the Devils' MVP for the second straight year.