Kovalchuk Glad to Be Out of Atlanta and In Stanley Cup Playoffs

NEWARK -- Ilya Kovalchuk had yet to hear the news, but understood the irony.

"I'm very sorry to hear that," Kovalchuk told FanHouse after the Devils' morning skate on Wednesday, when informed that his former coach John Anderson had just been fired by the Atlanta Thrashers. "John is a very nice man and was an excellent coach for me and the Thrashers. Once we learned his system, we really started to get better. I hope people around the league understand how good John is, and he gets another chance. He definitely deserves one."

Kovalchuk spoke of the Anderson firing on the same day the curtain rises on his new life as a playoff performer. His New Jersey Devils begin their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers. Over a well-decorated eight-year NHL career, Kovalchuk -- who turns 27 on Thursday -- has played all of four Stanley Cup playoff games. The Thrashers were swept by the New York Rangers in four games in 2007.

When he turned down a $101 million offer to stay in Atlanta, it was a night like this that Kovalchuk planned for and dreamed about.

"Oh yeah," Kovalchuk said with a huge grin when asked if his amicable divorce from the Thrashers was about playing meaningful games. "You play hockey to play for something -- not to be out of the playoff race in March. My first experience in the playoffs was not a good one. I'm excited to have the chance to put that one behind me.

"It was a terrible experience getting swept by New York, but I still take something from it. I learned about the atmosphere that comes when you are in big games. I learned how to get ready. I didn't play my best, but I feel like it will help me in this series against the Flyers."

"You play hockey to play for something -- not to be out of the playoff race in March."
-- Ilya Kovalchuk The postseason is why Kovalchuk was thrilled to be traded to the Devils. The postseason is why the Devils acquired him.

"Kovalchuk, to me, brought this team to another level," New Jersey head coach Jacques Lemaire said in his post-morning skate press briefing. "We now have two good lines. We now can compete with the other teams."

Said Devils goalie Martin Brodeur: "This is the time for the biggest guys like Kovie and Zach (Parise) to shine. It's their time."

Kovalchuk has waited a long time for that spotlight. He seems especially pumped that his potential playoff breakout could come in a series against the Flyers, his team's New Jersey Turnpike rivals.

"The Flyers, I think they have the craziest fans in the league," said Kovalchuk. "I'm sure we'll see some of them in our building tonight. That's okay, only adds to the excitement. I wish this game was starting right away."

Notebook: The Devils kept the lineup lean at their morning skate Wednesday at the Prudential Center. Jacques Lemaire said the team will limit their pre-game workouts to 13 forwards, seven defensemen and goalies Martin Brodeur and Yann Danis. Of that group, one defenseman and forward will have to be scratched. "It's hard to have a good practice when you have five lines and extra guys," said Lemaire. "It's hard to get the guys into a good rhythm." ...

Veteran Devils Stanley Cup ring owner Jay Pandolfo was not in the morning group and therefore will be a healthy scratch. ...

Devils line combinations, at least to start: Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Jamie Langenbrunner; Ilya Kovalchuk - Rod Pelley - Patrik Elias; Brian Rolston - Dean McAmmond - Dainius Zubrus; Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond - Rob Niedermayer - David Clarkson. ...

Devils defenseman Paul Martin, who missed 62 games this season and a spot on Team USA at the Olympics with a fractured forearm, said he is at 100 percent health for the playoffs. "This is the best I've felt all year," said Martin. "I'm glad I'm ready to play at the most important time of the season." ...

Looking to change his luck -- after all, it's been seven years since the Devils last won a Stanley Cup -- Martin Brodeur is growing a playoff beard. "I never did it before," said Brodeur. "We'll see. Right now, it's pretty itchy." ...

The Flyers dominated the regular season series, going 5-1-0 against the Devils. Asked if it's an issue, Lemaire said, "It's already forgotten." ...

The second seed in the Stanley Cup playoffs has historically been a dangerous spot for upsets. Since the NHL went to its current playoff format in 1994, the No. 2 seeds are just 16-14 in first round series. ...

Lemaire on veteran all-star Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, now 35 year old: "Maybe his speed has dropped a bit, but it doesn't hurt him because he is smarter. As a player, as you get older you get smarter." ...

Lemaire on his 37-year-old goalie, Martin Brodeur: "He hasn't changed much. He's the same person who loves the challenge, loves the big games and handles the pressure well. The only thing he has is the age. The rest is the same."