Devils 6 – Lightning 0
They moved atop their division, and removed their last question mark for the playoffs. The Devils yesterday set themselves up to run at another Stanley Cup.
In grabbing Sean O’Donnell for Willie Mitchell, Lou Lamoriello managed a bargain lease for a much-needed defenseman, pre-empting a bidding war from erupting today at the GMs’ meetings in California.
Before his Devils won their fourth straight with a methodical 6-0 blanking of Tampa Bay at the Meadowlands yesterday, Lamoriello landed the widely-coveted rental defenseman from Minnesota yesterday. The Devils gave up only prospect project Mitchell, who looked every bit of a nervous 199th pick in his 16 games with New Jersey this season.
Lamoriello benefited from the presence of Jacques Lemaire as Minnesota’s coach, as the Wild clearly went for Mitchell more on past history than present stature.
O’Donnell does not represent the offensive defenseman the Devils are still seeking, but they could get by if he proves as solid as he should be here. The team’s interest in O’Donnell was first reported here Jan. 21, and O’Donnell headed the laundry list of Devil quarry in yesterday’s Post.
Both Lamoriello and Robinson seemed certain O’Donnell will help.
“I like his size and strength and the way he plays the game, especially for the division we’re in,” Lamoriello said. “The other thing is that he played under Jacques Lemaire for 60 games in a system consistent with the system here.
“He’ll fit right in.”
Robinson seemed very pleased at the acquisition of O’Donnell.
“He’s big, physical, moves the puck well and he’s good in his own zone. He’s a good team guy and comes to play every night,” Robinson said.
O’Donnell, 29, was drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round, 123rd overall, in 1991, and was traded to the Kings in 1994 for Doug Houda. The Wild grabbed him in June’s expansion draft, well aware he can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Should the Devils manage to sign him, they will owe Minnesota additional compensation. He is making $1.1 million this season.
In trouncing Tampa, the Devils went about business as usual, regaining the injured Scott Gomez while disposing of the Lightning for their fourth straight triumph.
During a sluggish first period, they took the lead on a four-pass sequence that ended with Petr Sykora’s power play tap-in, Martin Brodeur to Jason Arnott to Patrik Elias to Bobby Holik to Sykora at the goalmouth at 14:47.
Arnott scored in both the second and third, nudging home Holik’s blocked power- play shot at 16:40 in the second, then completing a give-and-go for his 14th at 5:23 of the third. Gomez scored twice in the final seven minutes, and Sykora added his 28th with 1:03 left to complete the rout.
Brodeur’s shutout was his seventh this season and 49th career. The Devils are 13-1 in the last 14 games at the Meadowlands against Tampa.
