Got a little bit of bad news fans: The batteries in my digital recorder died like, a minute-and-a-half into our sitdown with coach Brent Sutter after practice Wednesday. So I was forced to take notes, old-fashioned, with a pen on paper.

The good news is there wasn't much going on today as the team practiced in the afternoon at the Rock and then went straight to the airport for its flight to Atlanta.

Anyway, the gist is this: There were no changes in Sutter's groupings from Tuesday, meaning all four lines remain the same, and Andy Greene is still expected to make his season debut Thursday night in Atlanta, replacing Anssi Salmela.

What does Sutter expect from Greene?

Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerBrian Rolston compares himself to a quarterback who's getting sacked too much when it comes to the power play.

The Devils' quarterback is scrambling a bit.

Brian Rolston, signed as a free agent to quarterback the power play, admitted Tuesday after practice at the Prudential Center that it hasn't gone exactly as planned through the first three games of the season.

And while the Devils managed to win their first two games, the power play took much of the heat for going 0-for-3 in Monday night's 4-1 loss to the Rangers.

"As far as quarterbacking the power play, a lot has been made of that," said the always-forthright Rolston. "I certainly hope I'm going to help the power play. To this point we haven't been great on it three games in.

AP PhotoBobby Holik says he wouldn't want to wear the captain's "C" again after his experience in Atlanta.

But the big center had some interesting thoughts regarding his three seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, including his time as the club's captain. It's a job he wouldn't want again for any team.

"It was a tremendous honor because my personality doesn't necessarily fit to that position," Holik said. "It didn't change me. It's something I value very highly as far as my career goes, but as the season went on I realized I'm not captain material because sometimes you have to be more politically correct or get along with people. Or not be too honest, because I feel you have to kind of keep the peace.

"I guess I'm just too blunt about some things. Or too honest. You'd think that would be a strength or a good thing about a captain, but not the way I am, I guess, sometimes. At least I don't think it worked out that well there."

After three NHL games, rookie defenseman Anssi Salmela will take a seat as a spectator while Andy Greene is inserted into the Devils' lineup for Thursday night's game in Atlanta.

Greene was paired with Johnny Oduya in Tuesday's practice in Newark.

"I think it's good for Sammy," coach Brent Sutter said of the change. "The pace has changed since the regular season started. The tempo of the game has increased, which everyone expects. But sometimes young guys have trouble adjusting to it. He needs to adjust to it."

David Clarkson was ready to fight Rangers winger Aaron Voros in the third period.

Instead, the Devils right winger wound up getting 10 stitches to close a gash though his lower lip. Clarkson said he was going to check Voros into the boards and took a stick in the face.

"It was after I asked him to fight," Clarkson reported. "I went in to finish my check and I guess he saw me coming. His stick got me in the mouth. The stick went right through."

The fans chanted, "You can't beat us!'' as the final seconds ticked off in the Rangers' 4-1 victory over the Devils. Aside from the final 13 minutes or so of the second period, when the Devils dominated and scored their only goal, the Rangers were in control for most of the game.

Aaron Voros had two power play goals, one each in the second and third periods, and Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan (into an empty net) had the other goals for the Rangers who improve to 5-0 on the season.

The Devils fell to 2-1 on the season, and their ineptitude against the Rangers continued. They went 1-4-3 against their arch rivals last season and then lost to them in five games in the first round of the playoffs. The teams will play each other five more times this season, the next coming Nov. 12 at the Prudential Center.

Aaron Voros's second goal of the game -- another power play goal on which the big forward has deflected a shot from the point -- has given the Rangers a 3-1 lead just 1:39 into the third period. The goal was initially credited to Paul Mara, who had taken the shot from the left point, but a scoring change was just announced a few minutes ago.

Dominated for most of the first 27 minutes of the game, the Devils suddenly picked up their intensity after Dmitri Kalinin of the Rangers was penalized for shooting the puck over the glass at 7:43 of the second period. The Devils began to increase the pressure on Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and ultimately the pressure paid off when John Madden scored his first goal of the season with 1:48 left in the period. Zach Parise picked off a weak clearing attempt by the Rangers at the right half-boards and sent a shot toward Lundqvist that the goaltender saved. Jay Pandolfo dug the puck out and Madden corraled it and backhanded it into the net. It was the fifth goal off the season for the Devils and first scored by someone other than Parise or Patrik Elias.

However, the Rangers will begin the third period on the power play because Devils defenseman Johnny Oduya was penalized for interfering with Ryan Callahan with 2.9 seconds remaining in the second after Oduya ran into Callahan while the play left the Devils' zone. Apparently Oduya thought Callahan had run into Martin Brodeur.

Aaron Voros' deflection of a shot by Daniel Girardi on a power play has given the Rangers a 2-0 lead on the Devils at 6:37 of the second period.

Andrew MillsThe Star-LedgerRangers Brandon Dubinsky comes over and kisses the helmet of Nikolai Zherdev who was sitting alone on the bench before a moment of silence for Rangers prospect Alexi Cherepanov, who died earlier today during a game in Russia at age 19, as the New York Rangers host the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden.

Every game this season so far, the Devils have fallen behind. They did it Friday at home against the Islanders, Saturday in Pittsburgh against the Penguins, and tonight they have fallen behind to their arch rivals, the Rangers on a goal by Brandon Dubinsky at 13:30 of the first period.

The Rangers have dominated play so far, keeping the puck in the Devils' end of the ice for most of the period, and Dubinsky scored his third goal of the season on the rush, when he fired a shot from way out near the left wing boards that deflected off the stick of defenseman Johnny Oduya and floated toward Brodeur. With no one near him, Brodeur flubbed the puck, reaching out for it with his catching glove, only to have it deflect off the glove and drop into the net to the surprise and delight of the Rangers and their fans.

The fans did get on Brodeur a little bit, but not that much, honestly. The Rangers outshot the Devils 11-5 in the period.

Barry Tallackson said he is feeling 75-80 percent back to normal and getting closer to full condition every day and he hopes to be practicing within a couple of weeks or so.

"I feel better every single day and my conditioning feels like it's getting one step better every day and I'm just moving forward and hopefully within the next two weeks I'd like to practice,'' Tallackson said after Monday's morning skate at Prudential Center.

Tallackson, who has skated now four times, said his routine involves arriving at the rink at about 8 a.m. every day, and skating with a trainer, and then lifting weights. He lifts less weight and does fewer repititions, he said, "but it's a good workout.'' He said he spends more time on the ice now, than in the weight room, which is a change from the first few days.

Star-Ledger File PhotoNew Jersey Devils coach Brent Sutter said Anssi Salmela was somewhat erratic Saturday vs. Piittsburgh.

First things first - there are no lineup changes, which means Ds Sheldon Brookbank and Andy Greene and F Petr Vrana are still on the outside looking in, waiting to make their season debuts. As far as rookie D Anssi Salmela, who played his first two NHL games over the weekend, coach Brent Sutter said he was "fine'' in his first game Friday against the Islanders, but "somewhat erratic'' in the second game Saturday against the Penguins.

That could have something to do with the fact that the Penguins have Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin on their team and the Islanders, uh, don't.

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur was named the NHL's third star for the week ending Oct. 12.

Brodeur posted a 2-0-0 record with a 0.97 goals-against average and .951 save percentage as the Devils opened the season with a pair of 2-1 victories.

He stopped 25 shots in the Devils' home opener, a 2-1 victory over the Islanders Oct. 10. The next night, he made 14 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The victories improved Brodeur's career total to 540, pulling him within 11 of matching Patrick Roy's NHL record.

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerColin White, right, believes the game is not as physical as it once was.

Ask Colin White about the rivalry between the Devils and Rangers, and what the veteran defenseman remembers most are the years after he first broke into the NHL in January 2000. In those days a Devils loss was rare against a team they seemed to own.

During White's first five seasons in a Devils sweater, the two clubs met 26 times. The Devils lost three of those games.

"That was a crazy run," White said, "and I came in in the middle of it."

Things have changed. The Devils won only one of eight meetings with the Rangers last season and that win came in a shootout. Worse, the Rangers knocked the Devils out of the playoffs in the first round.

With help from the Elias Sports Bureau, the Devils have determined that Saturday night's come-from-behind victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins was only the third ever in which they trailed, 1-0, in the last five minutes of the third period.

The three late comeback wins:

March 1, 2003 Jamie Langenbrunner scored at 19:27 of the third period vs. the Capitals at the Meadowlands. The Devils won, 2-1, in overtime.

Dec. 6, 2003. Scott Niedermayer scored at 18:23 of the third period vs. the Senators in Ottawa. The Devils won, 2-1.

Oct. 11, 2008. Patrik Elias scored at 17:31 of the third period vs. the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The Devils won, 2-1, in overtime.

Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerBobby Holik hasn't gotten much grief so far from Devils fans about his days with the Rangers.

Going back to Madison Square Garden since becoming an ex-Ranger is nothing new for Bobby Holik. He's done it as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers.

However, playing at the Garden as a member of the Devils is different. And that is what will happen Monday night when the Devils and Rangers meet for the first time this season.

So what does the always-talkative Holik have to say about his Rangers days? Not much.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated PressPittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was virtually unstoppable all night, but the Devils managed to come back to win.

Stories, blogs

Game story: Over time, Devils get to Fleury

Sutter shakes up the lines

White robbed of two-assist night

Notes: Tallackson skates again

Devils feel pinch of economic crisis

Boxscore

Photos

Photo slideshow

You make the call

Evaluate the start of the season

The Devils' comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins did not come without some tinkering from coach Brent Sutter.

He used numerous line combinations, including Brian Gionta on the right side with John Madden and Jay Pandolfo.

Then there was the double-shifting of Patrik Elias to use the left winger with Bobby Holik and Dainius Zubrus line in place of Mike Rupp. Brian Rolston also skated on the wing with Madden and Pandolfo.

Colin White doesn't score a lot of points.

So when the Devils' veteran defenseman has a direct hand in two goals, he figures he should get two assists.

That wasn't the case Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

White was credited with the secondary assist on Zach Parise's overtime goal, which gave the Devils a 2-1 victory over the Penguins, but his name never appeared on the score sheet for starting the play that led to New Jersey's first goal.

The Devils outshot the Penguins, 15-4, in the second period Saturday night, but were unable to get one past Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Zach Parise had a hand in the two best chances. His shot from the left circle was stopped by Fleury and he set up Dainius Zubrus for a redirection that the Pens goalie managed to keep out of the net.

Devils right winger David Clarkson angered the Penguins in the second period. First, the 6-1 Clarkson landed several good punches against the much-bigger Hal Gill (6-7). However, the Penguins were undoubtedly most upset when Clarkson stuck out his leg to trip Sidney Crosby.

The Pittsburgh Penguins capitalized on a Brian Gionta penalty, taking a 1-0 lead in the first period Saturday night on a power play goal from Miro Satan.

With the Devils seemingly having trouble getting to pucks ahead of the Pens, Devils coach Brent Sutter did some juggling by changing his defense pairings and line combinations.

Sutter reunited Colin White and Mike Mottau while moving rookie Anssi Salmela with Johnny Oduya. The No. 1 pair of Paul Martin and Bryce Salvador remained together.

The Devils take on another Atlantic Division rival when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight.

Three things to look for:

1. The Penguins will be flying. They played two games in Sweden against the Ottawa Senators, but this is their home opener.

The Devils flew into Pittsburgh after their opening night victory over the Islanders and got their first look on Saturday at the construction site for the Pittsburgh Penguins' new arena.

With the area already cleared after knocking down several buildings, landscape terracing has created a flat base surface for the $225 million rink. On Saturday there were quite a few cranes and heavy machinery working on the site just south of Mellon Arena.

According to the Penguins, they hope to begin play in the 18,000-seat facility in 2010-11. The official ground breaking took place back on Aug. 14.

Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesAnssi Salmela impressed Devils coach Brent Sutter with his calmness before the game.

NOTEBOOK

Anssi Salmela was glad to get his NHL debut out of the way.

"I played okay," the Devils' rookie defenseman said. "There were a lot of penalties to break up the game. It was a long time sitting on the bench."

Still, the Finnish blue-liner had fun.

"Of course. Always," he said. "But to get the win in the first game is all that matters."

Pessimists might point out that the Devils were playing an Islanders team that many believe will finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and miss the playoffs.

The Islanders also played without their goalie, Rick DiPietro, whose sore surgically-repaired knee was rested in hope he'll be able to play in the club's home opener Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum.

So how happy could the Devils be?

"That was the first game. It was kind of ugly, sloppy," Patrik Elias said. "We know we can be better."

Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerMartin Brodeur dives to make a save on the Islanders' Jeff Tambellini.

No matter how often they tell themselves that last season is history, the Devils cannot help but remember how many points they wasted in games against the Rangers and Islanders.

They certainly did not want to open their second season in the Prudential Center by squandering two points against the Islanders, particularly on a night when goalie Rick DiPietro was not playing.

"Our division is important," Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said. "Last year it was amazing we made the playoffs losing so many games to our division rivals. This year there are less games we play against them, but they're important.

"For us getting the first win, especially against an Islanders team that always plays us well, is a good sign."

Rich Schultz/Associated PressZach Parise reacts after scoring a goal against the Islanders Friday night.

Amazingly, Zach Parise wasn't happy with the way he played last season.

Although the young left winger led the Devils in points (65) and goals (32), both career highs, he thought he should've been better.

"I wasn't overly happy with the way I played the whole year," Parise said before the Devils faced the Islanders in their regular-season opener Friday night at the Prudential Center. "There were spurts when I felt good and played well. And there were some spurts when, for one reason or another, I just didn't play that well.

"It didn't sit well with me. There were times I felt great, but I think it happened too much that I didn't feel like I played well. I want to be more consistent."

Observations after the second period of Friday night's Devils-Islanders game:

1. The Devils sidestepped three potential Islanders goals. Richard Park hit the right post and crossbar while Bill Guerin's second period shot went through Martin Brodeur's legs into the left post.

2. Jamie Langenbrunner jokingly said he planned to fight more this season. He almost got into one with Jack Hillen of the Islanders during a goal mouth shiving match late in the second period.

3. The big boys were banging. Mike Rupp, Bobby Holik and Dainius Zubrus threw their weight around in the first two periods, even though they didn't create any dangerous scoring chances.

Patrik Elias's goal in the first minute of the second period was the only one of the period. The Islanders outshot the Devils 12-7 in the period, not including the one that hit the crossbar and the other that hit the post.

The Islanders will have a power play for the first 1:51 of the third period because Devils defenseman Colin White was given a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass with nine seconds left in the second.

The Islanders obviously are not iron deficient. Twice in a span of 15 seconds they have beaten Martin Brodeur, only to be foiled by the iron behind the Devils goalie.

First it was Richard Park, who had already hit the post in the first minute of the game, hitting the pipe for the second time in the game. Park got free in the slot and took a pass from Andy Hilbert from behind the net, then Park whipped a shot over Brodeur's shoulder and off the crossbar with 15:31 remaining.

Then, with 15:16 remaining, ex-Devil Billy Guerin, the Islanders' captain, fired a shot from the left wing that squeezed between Brodeur's pads and dribbled off the left wing post and stayed out.

Less than a minute into the second period, the Devils have taken a 2-1 lead over the Islanders on a goal by Patrik Elias.

After a turnover by Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt, Brian Gionta raced up the right wing and centered a puck into the goal crease that Elias, crashing the net, deflected on net. Islanders' goaltender Joey McDonald made the initial save, but Elias backhanded the rebound in at 29 seconds in the period.

NOTEBOOK

Barry Tallackson skated on his own Friday morning for the first time since undergoing surgery on Sept. 26 in Minnesota to correct an irregular heartbeat.

The 25-year-old right winger skated before the Devils' morning skate at the Prudential Center.

"It went fine," general manager Lou Lamoriello reported. "He's been working out (off ice). He's not in shape. He hasn't been on the ice for a month. It's going to take a long time."

When Tallackson is ready to begin practicing, he will be sent to Lowell (AHL), but that is not imminent.

Some observations on the Devils-Islanders first period Friday night at the Rock:

1. Rookie Anssi Salmela and power play point man Brian Rolston both seemed nervous. Salmela because it was his first NHL game. Rolston, on the other hand, seemed to be forcing it.

2. Colin White had a tough start. He took the penalty that led to the Islanders' goal and pulled down Kyle Okposo for a penalty shot.

3. The new mask hasn't jinxed Martin Brodeur. He wasn't at fault on the deflected Islanders goal and he made a great glove save on Okposo's penalty shot.

The Devils and Islanders are tied, 1-1, after 20 minutes of play at Prudential Center in the season opener for both teams. Each team has a power play goal -- the Islanders from newcomer Doug Weight, and the Devils from their leading goalscorer of a season ago, Zach Parise.

The Devils outshot the Islanders 11-5 in the period, but the Islanders also had Richard Park hit a goalpost 30 seconds into the game and -- playing in front of backup goaltender Joey McDonald -- are hanging in. This is not good news for the Devils, although 40 minutes still remain, and that is a relatively long time for an undermanned road team like the Islanders to keep hanging on.

The Islanders were awarded a penalty shot with 3:58 remaining when Colin White tripped Kyle Okposo from behind on a semi-breakaway after Okposo had blocked White's left-point shot attempt and raced up ice, cutting in on Brodeur.

Okposo, a rookie who was the Islanders' first round draft pick (No. 7 overall) in 2006, appeared to stumble after he crossed the blue line on the penalty shot attempt, but the right-handed shooter recovered and fired a shot aimed at the top left corner that Brodeur knocked away with his catching glove to keep the score tied.

Zach Parise's first goal of the season, on a power play, has tied the score, 1-1 at 12:49 of the first period. Radek Martinek was off for holding and Paul Martin fired a shot from the left point that deflected off a group of players in front of the net and bounced right to Parise, standing alone below the right circle. With goaltender Joey McDonald out of position, Parise easily flipped the puck into a vacated net.

Doug Weight, a summer free agent signing by the Islanders, has scored on the power play to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead over the Devils at 9:48 of the first period of the teams' regular season opener tonight at the Rock.

With Colin White sitting out a hooking penalty, Weight scored when he fired a shot from the top of the right circle that hit the skate of Devils defenseman Paul Martin and ricocheted in past Martin Brodeur.

**

Zach Parise just collided with referee Dan Marouelli and knocked him down.

**
The Devils are now on the power play after Isles defenseman Radek Martinek was called for holding Patrik Elias at 11:23. It's the Devils' second power play of the game.

Al Bello/Getty ImagesThe Devils weren't expecting to see this guy in goal Friday night.

Despite claims Friday morning that Rick DiPietro would start in goal Friday night against the Devils, the team started Joey MacDonald in the net.

The Islanders did not explain the reason for the change, indicating the answer would come after the game.

DiPietro had knee surgery in June, as well as hip surgery last season.

Martin Brodeur was in net for the Devils, who also started Colin White and Anssi Salmela on defense, along with the forward line of Patrik Elias, Brian Rolston and Brian Gionta.

What should Devils fans watch for in Friday night's regular-season opener against the Islanders?

1. Will the Devils finally master Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro?

"We did really badly against these guys last year," Martin Brodeur said. "The way we played against the Islanders and Rangers is something that hits home. Especially against the Islanders and not being able to solve Rick DiPietro. He was so good against us."

2. The Devils' power play. They brought Brian Rolston in to man the point. It looked good during the preseason, but now it counts.

3. Anssi Salmela. The Finnish defenseman makes his NHL debut Friday night. Will he be nervous? Coach Brent Sutter says he has ice in his veins. But what if he coughs one up in front of his own net?

Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerPatrik Elias

The Devils are typically low-key when it comes to opening night ceremonies and Friday night's pregame event at the Prudential Center promised to be no different.

But for the team's veteran players, opening night never loses its luster.

"It's always fun to get it started," left winger Patrik Elias said. "I think it gets most guys going. Personally, I want to treat it like a regular game so you don't get too excited."

But that's usually not possible.

Joe Epstein/The Star-LedgerIn 1980, the Islanders told Brent Sutter to meet them in Detroit, where he made his own NHL debut.

Brent Sutter remembered being nervous before his NHL debut with the Islanders in 1980-81, so he skated over to Devils rookie Anssi Salmela during Friday's morning skate to monitor the Finnish defenseman's mood.

No problem.

"I just asked him how he was doing," Sutter said after the skate. "He said, 'Let's get at her.' He must be doing fine. Kind of cute.

"The kid has ice in his veins. He's pretty calm about everything, although I'm sure he's like a duck in water."

To hear the players talk about it, you'd have thought they were skating in slush during Thursday's practice at the Prudential Center. There was actual concern about the ice conditions for Friday night's regular season opener against the Islanders.

But the condition of the ice apparently improved after general manager Lou Lamoriello huddled with arena officials.

"It was better today," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner told me after the morning skate. "It was hot in here yesterday. We'll see what it's like tonight."

Greetings people. Colin here, filling in for Rich again as he's buried in season preview stuff that kept him home Thursday.

Nothing much going on at practice Thursday -- they haven't played a game since last Saturday as we all know, so pretty much everyone is just ready to drop the puck for real and let's go already. First, the only news, of sorts, is that Barry Tallackson (heart surgery) did not skate Thursday, as we'd heard he might, and Fedor Fedorov was officially assigned to AHL Lowell, although when GM Lou Lamoriello was asked if Fedorov was going to report to Lowell, he kind of shrugged his shoulders, said nothing, and walked away - indicating that is unlikely. Everyone still expects Fedorov to return to Russia, instead of playing in the minors.

Looks like the lineup is pretty set for Friday against the Islanders - the units have all been working together all week and the extras are Ds Sheldon Brookbank and Andy Greene and F Petr Vrana. Finnish D Anssi Salmela will make his NHL debut.

Jeff Friesen, who scored the series-clinching goal for the Devils in Game 7 of the 2003 Eastern Conference finals against the Ottawa Senators, was cut Thursday by the San Jose Sharks and is likely finished as an NHL player.

Friesen, who was attending Sharks training camp on a tryout basis, was released by the team.

"Jeff had a very good camp and he should be proud of his effort and his commitment," Sharks GM Doug Wilson said in a statement. "However, at this time, we are moving forward with our 23-man roster as announced (Wednesday). We wish Jeff nothing but the best in the future and he will always have a special place within the San Jose Sharks family."

New Jersey Devils coach Brent Sutter is, no doubt, a proud dad after learning that his son, Brandon, has made the Carolina Hurricanes' opening night roster.

Brandon Sutter, a 6-3, 183-pound forward, was Carolina's first pick (11th overall) in the 2007 entry draft.

He scored 49 points (26 goals, 23 assists) in 59 junior games for Red Deer (WHL) last season before playing seven games for Albany (AHL) with a goal and an assist. Brent Sutter owns and operates the Red Deer franchise.

Brodeur's new mask

Yes, Martin Brodeur knows he is tempting fate by changing the design on his goalie mask.

But even after 538 career victories, he doesn't seem worried after unveiling in practice Wednesday morning the new mask he plans to wear this season. Brodeur's brother, Denis Jr., developed the "MB30" logo.

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerClick the jump for some tidbits on the Devils 5-on-3 power play plans (hint: they include Jamie Langenbrunner, above.)

The four forward lines are set, and with Zubrus back, everybody was with their regular group. The extra players, dressed in green jerseys, were F Petr Vrana and Ds Sheldon Brookbank and Andy Greene. So unless something happens over the next few days, those three figure to be the opening night scratches.

Jukka Porvari was the first. Anssi Salmela is poised to be the latest.

When Salmela makes his Devils debut as early as Friday night against the Islanders, he will become the 10th Finnish-born player in Devils history. Porvari made his debut on April 14, 1982, against the Montreal Canadiens. That was the fifth game in Devils history and was played in the Meadowlands.

Tapio Levo, who played more games for the Devils that 1982-83 season, made his debut Oct. 16 in Pittsburgh. Both Porvari and Levo had played for the Colorado Rockies the previous season.

Here's a closer look at the Devils and their Finnish-born players:

Barring a last-minute change of heart by Devils coach Brent Sutter, rookie defenseman Anssi Salmela will make his NHL debut in Friday night's regular-season opener against the Islanders.

Fellow rookie Petr Vrana, who also made the club's final 23-man roster, may have to wait.

"I'm the 13th forward so far," Vrana said Monday after practice at the Prudential Center. "I'll just be waiting for the chance to get into a game. It would be great to play on Friday. You never know. I'll be waiting for the call."

The comeback hopes of former Devils defenseman Richard Matvichuk ended on Monday when the Columbus Blue Jackets released him from his tryout contract.

On the other hand, ex-Devils forward Dan LaCouture was signed to a one-year contract by the Carolina Hurricanes. The deal will pay LaCouture $475,000 if he remains with the Hurricanes or $50,000 in the AHL. He has a guarantee of at least $75,000 during the 2008-09 season.

"Dan came to our camp in great physical condition and earned himself a contract," Carolina assistant general manager Ron Francis said. "He is an experienced, veteran player with good speed and size and is capable of contributing on the NHL level."

Barry Tallackson, who underwent surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat, worked out off ice for the second straight day and said he felt great.

Tallackson worked out of the treadmill and stationary bike. He hopes to start skating on his own Wednesday.

"No problems," Tallackson reported Monday morning. "I got my heart rate rocking and I didn't see any problems."