NHL

Injuries to Martin, Pandolfo pain Devils

Defenseman Mike Mottau is expected to rejoin the Devils in practice today, and Patrik Elias, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, is anticipated to make his practice debut “more toward the end of the week,” GM Lou Lamoriello said.

But they’re bracing for bad news today about Paul Martin and Jay Pandolfo.

But while the Devils were setting a team record Saturday with a perfect 5-0 road start to their season, they lost team ice-time leader Martin to a suspected broken left arm and stalwart left wing Pandolfo to a dislocated right shoulder in Saturday’s 4-1 victory in Pittsburgh.

The Devils expected to send Martin and Pandolfo for tests and X-rays late last night or this morning.

“We wanted to let things [like swelling] settle for 24 hours,” Lamoriello said. “Certainly they’re both out. To what degree, we don’t know.”

Martin said he was hit by a Bill Guerin shot, then slashed, and found he couldn’t hold his stick. Pandolfo was run from behind into the boards by former Devil Mike Rupp, popping his shoulder, which was later, and painfully, popped back in.

Mottau’s return to practice today in time for Wednesday’s visit by the Sabres would permit a 1-for-1 lineup replacement of Martin. When Elias returns, with Nov. 4 still the target, he’d be a very different LW than Pandolfo.

Lamoriello said Saturday that the issue now is Elias’ all-around conditioning, and the over-compensating he’s unavoidably done while recovering from his Sept. 15 groin surgery. The GM said no more visits to the Philadelphia specialist are necessary.

“We’d rather it be a little late rather than too soon,” said Lamoriello, whose 3-6 week initial estimate for a season debut passes tomorrow.

Mottau suffered a hip injury in Thursday’s 4-2 victory over the Rangers, but is expected to reclaim his spot on defense for Wednesday. In his place, rookie Mark Fraser made his season debut Saturday and scored his first NHL goal, and the first by a Devils defenseman this season. Fraser is likely to retain a spot with Martin out.

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Rod Pelley picked up an assist on Niclas Bergfors’ power play goal Saturday, put on the power play by Lemaire with orders to go to the front of the net. Lemaire indicated he was pleased with Pelley’s compliance and results.

mark.everson@nypost.com