NEW JERSEY VS. PITTSBURGH COLORADO VS. ST. LOUIS

Wednesday, May 16 Niedermayer plays 25 shifts in first game back Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- All-Star defenseman Scott Niedermayer returned to the New Jersey Devils lineup Tuesday night for the first time since Toronto's Tie Domi knocked him out with an elbow nearly two weeks ago. Niedermayer Niedermayer played 25 shifts, covering 23 minutes, 16 seconds in the Devils' 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at the Continental Airlines Arena. He played more shifts and totaled more ice time than Devils captain Scott Stevens. "I probably have felt better if we had won," Niedermayer said. "But I felt good. I didn't feel the best I've felt, whether it was because of the injury or because I hadn't been in a playoff game for 12 days." Niedermayer didn't show any signs of rustiness after missing four playoff games because of post-concussion headaches. He said he wasn't fatigued during the game, but admitted there were times he did not feel focused. "Maybe that was just the fact I had not been used to playing or probably from the injury as well," Niedermayer said. Niedermayer was even on the plus-minus rating in the game, which he started paired with Stevens. He has not had headaches for a few days, but said playing in the game will be the real test. "Hopefully, I don't feel anything and I'll get up tomorrow feeling good," Niedermayer said. "If I do that, my confidence will be a lot better than maybe it was going into this game." Niedermayer received a loud ovation when his name was announced in the starting lineup. However, the Devils didn't take any chances before the game, dressing seven defenseman for the pregame warmup. Ken Sutton, who replaced Niedermayer in the lineup the past four games, skated in the warmup, but was scratched about 15 minutes before the opening faceoff. Domi, a rough Maple Leafs forward, was suspended for the rest of the playoffs and the first eight games of next season because of the cheap-shot hit to Niedermayer's face late in Game 4 of the conference semifinals. New Jersey also had left wing Sergei Brylin back on the ice Tuesday. He sustained a knee injury in Game 3 against Toronto and missed five games. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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