After putting the captaincy up for grabs, Brent Sutter is breaking up the Devils’ vaunted checking combo of John Madden and Jay Pandolfo.
“It’s my feeling. I think it’s a good breath of fresh air for both of them,” Sutter said yesterday, preparing for tonight’s exhibition finale against the Islanders in Bridgeport, Conn. “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong, but I don’t like the idea of having a checking line that’s just your checking line.”
Sutter can always change his mind, but yesterday had Madden, 34, skating wing with rookie center Rod Pelley and winger Arron Asham, while Pandolfo, 32, was on the four-man fourth line rotation with Mike Rupp, David Clarkson and Sergei Brylin.
Without White, the Devils’ defense that took on the Islanders last night in the exhibition finale featured Richard Matvichuk, who played nine playoff and one regular-season game last season after back surgery, Paul Martin, Johnny Oduya, Rachunek, Vitaly Vishnevski, Andy Greene, Matt Corrente and Mike Mottau.