His once-mighty penalty killing now an NHL-worst controversy, Larry Robinson yesterday issued a vote of confidence that may signal a return to his former formidable format.
While preparing for tonight’s game against the Thrashers at the Meadowlands, the Devil coach declared oft-separated Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens his prime shorthanded defenders.
“Dano and Scott are our No. 1 pair. They have been doing, and have done a great job over the years,” Robinson said.
His penalty-killing needs to click somehow. Robinson has been breaking in Colin White as Stevens’ regular penalty partner this season, and White has done some of his strongest work in that role. Still, that has long been Daneyko’s spot.
“At times, I want to play all the time and get in synch, but I do understand,” Daneyko said. “I am a guy they can count on.”
This season has followed the form of last year, when the penalty-killing failed the Devils in early going. Last year, it improved markedly in the season’s latter stages, and the Devils can only hope that trend repeats this year.
The Devils stand dead last in the NHL at killing penalties (30-of-43, 69.8 percent), this team that won the Stanley Cup 17 months ago by not allowing a single power play goal at home (11 games) in two months of playoffs.
“We’ll be fine, because we’ve got the personnel,” Daneyko insisted.