NHL

Devils’ Langenbrunner: Coach made me sit out

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Devils captain has a beef with the coach.

He’s not the only one.

After five days of stewing, silence and speculation, Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner yesterday revealed that his discontent was, as believed, the result of being “rested” by Jacques Lemaire Saturday, depriving him of the chance to play every game this season.

He also wondered, if the reason was to obtain rest, why he had to accompany the team to Carolina just to witness New Jersey’s 4-0 triumph Saturday.

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“I’m going to give a little bit of a (wisecrack) answer here. If I am the coach, then said player would not have been on the airplane ride to Carolina,” Langenbrunner said.

Langenbrunner is not alone among the Devils in wishing Lemaire was more communicative with his players. Knowing where a player stands with the coach is a question that has been raised to The Post.

Langenbrunner’s brief discussion yesterday cleared some air around the team that has a chance to clinch its ninth Atlantic Division title in 13 seasons tonight. The Devils need to beat the Panthers (7:30; MSG, WBBR 11:30 AM) and have the Isles top the Penguins in regulation to assure them of the top spot.

In addition, the Devils will be seeking their 12th 100-point season, 11th in 13 campaigns, and their first three-game winning streak of 2010, riding consecutive shutouts turned in, both on the road, by Martin Brodeur.

Langenbrunner dodged the press after Saturday, then before Jersey’s 3-0 triumph in Atlanta Tuesday gave mostly “No comment” answers about his apparent unhappiness, before opening up a bit yesterday. Although his night off appeared the most likely reason, his silence stirred a hornet’s nest of speculation elsewhere.

He indicated that being sat out left him feeling Lemaire was unhappy with his play.

“I think sometimes decisions like that make you feel that way, regardless if it’s true or not,” Langenbrunner said.

He said the chance to play all 82 games was important to him.

“It was definitely something I wanted to do or at least attempt it,” he said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever done it (he played all 82 in 2006-07). I missed one last year. It would have been nice.”

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Individual game playoff tickets go on sale tomorrow at 11 a.m. . . . Brodeur is coming off his 600th victory and 110th shutout, both NHL records.

mark.everson@ny
post.com