Winter storm Hercules isn't the only thing wreaking havoc on the city of Newark.
The New Jersey Devils are a hurting unit right now. They host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night, then slip and slide to the airport after that game to board their charter flight to Buffalo.
The team made several roster moves on Friday.
Defenseman Anton Volchenkov was placed on IR. The Devils then called up forward Mike Sislo from AHL Albany.
#NJDevils have recalled forward Mike Sislo from @AlbanyDevils and placed defenseman Anton Volchenkov on IR, retroactive to Dec. 27.
— NHLDevilsPR (@NHLDevilsPR) January 3, 2014Volchenkov, placed on IR retroactively to December 27 (the date of his last game, a shootout loss to Columbus), is out with “general body soreness… but believed to be close to a return.
Sislo is a career AHLer.
Earlier in the day on Friday, the Devils waived Mattias Tedenby and activated Ryan Carter from IR.
Carter hasn't played in a game since Marcus Foligno rocked him in Newark last month.
Oh, by the way. Future first ballot Hall Of Famer Patrik Elias will not be making the trip to Buffalo.
The Sabres are 5-0-1 in their last six at home. The Devils are ripe to be beaten.
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@BuffaloSabres Growing up 35mins from the old Aud As a kid I dreamt of one day playing for the Sabres- I couldn't be happier #HiMomgoBills
— Zenon Konopka (@ZenonKonopka) January 3, 2014
Things to do 1.get to Buff 2.get Hoppy a Sabres Jersey 3.beat the Devils 4.give Rob Ray a high five 5.eat chicken wings and pizza #Sabres
— Zenon Konopka (@ZenonKonopka) January 3, 2014Stick tap Pat LaFontaine. Buffalo's acting GM has claimed energy forward Zenon Konopka off waivers from the Minnesota Wild. Per Sportsnet.
The 33-year-old Konopka was waived yesterday to create roster space for the Wild to pursue a trade.
He's a rough and tumble vet with great face-off and puck possession skills. He's a ferocious fore checker and a lead by example guy. Not unlike Matt Ellis, Matt D'Agostini and Cody McCormick.
The Sabres will be heavy to play against in the second half of this season with Konopka joining Foligno, McCormick, Scott, D'Agostini, Girgensons, Ott, and Ellis hitting every opponent whi dares touch the puck.
Konopka, a native of nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, is a 66% faceoff winner this season. Two out of three draw wins dont suck much, eh?