DENVER – For something Lou Lamoriello doesn’t believe is serious, the Devils are treating Jamie Langenbrunner’s knee injury very seriously.
The Devils’ goal-scoring co-leader and last spring’s playoff-goal champ today will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to determine the nature and extent of the injury that forced him from Friday’s 2-0 loss in Dallas.
Langenbrunner was promptly dispatched back to New Jersey and the decision was made to subject him to arthroscopy, with the possibility that further work may be required.
“They’re just going in to take a peek and see what it is,” Pat Burns said. “With some guys, it’s only two or three days until they’re back on their feet again. I’m not really worried about it.”
The Devils should be worried. Langenbrunner has provided some of the scoring punch they need, along with the qualities that prompted Burns to proclaim him one of the top 10 two-way forwards in the NHL.
Langenbrunner has been a key scoring ingredient on John Madden’s checking line, netting seven goals (equal to Patrik Elias). Madden’s unit likely will play differently with Sergei Brylin taking Langenbrunner’s spot tonight when the Devils complete their four-game road trip against the Avalanche here.
“Sarge [Brylin] is probably the guy who can do it best. He played there quite a bit last year,” Burns said.
Brylin replaced Langenbrunner there Friday after Langenbrunner sat out the end of the first period and didn’t return for the second. He and Mike Modano had collided heavily, perhaps aggravating an injury suffered Wednesday in Anaheim.
“It ain’t going to be something new,” Brylin said. “Left, right, center. The only thing different is that those guys usually play against the top line.”
That means Joe Sakic’s line (with Peter Forsberg still ailing), if Burns can get the matchups he wants. The Avs are coming around, having swept a two-game trip to Alberta.
The Devils seemed subdued yesterday after Friday’s end to their fifth all-time 13-game unbeaten streak.
“We just have to go back at it,” Burns said.
The challenge tonight is to keep from following their unbeaten streak with a winless one.
* After a return home to play host to Phoenix on Tuesday, the Devils and Marines will collect Toys for Tots on Thursday against the Caps . . . Friday’s loss was the Devils’ first since Oct. 25. It was their first road loss, ending their team record eight-game road unbeaten start (5-0-3).
