To a Devils team that has dealt with a rash of key injuries all season, the sight of rookie Adam Larsson being helped off the ice by teammates Alexei Ponikarovsky and David Clarkson was reason for worry.



Larsson suffered what the Devils are calling a bruised lower back on an open-ice hit from P.K. Subban of the Montreal Canadiens in tonight's 5-3 win. It sent the young defenseman crashing into the boards near the visitors' bench with six minutes remaining in the Devils' 5-3 come-from-behind victory Thursday night at the Prudential Center.

“I thought it was a clean hit,” coach Pete DeBoer said.

Goaltender Martin Brodeur said the Devils can't really complain about a hit like that.

"I was kind of looking at the puck. I just saw Subban kind of lifted (Larsson) up. I'm not sure what happened to him. I hope he's going to be okay," Brodeur said. "We've been on the other side with Scott Stevens hitting guys a lot. I can't judge whether it was dirty or not. But I've seen a lot of guys down at the blue line in my years."

Captain Zach Parise said only: "That was a big hit on Lars."

With DeBoer unsure whether Larsson will be available for back-to-back games this weekend-- Saturday in Philadelphia and then at home Sunday against the Penguins-- it seemed like a bittersweet win.



"No, it's pretty sweet," DeBoer said. "Obviously we have some guys in the injured room. But from what I understand, it looks like a bruise (with Larsson). That's a good sign. It was a big win for us, a big two points. I thought it was a real gutsy effort."

It was a physical game.

In addition to Larsson, defenseman Kurtis Foster was shaken up by a big hit earlier in the game. Foster was later benched after he was on the ice for a short-handed goal 1:35 into the second period.

Parise was sporting a bruised right cheek bone and a small cut outside his eye.

Rich Chere: rchere@starledger.com; twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils

MORE COVERAGE OF DEVILS HOCKEY



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"The Rangers game was hard-hitting," DeBoer said. "They're all physical right now and they're going to be from now right to the end. It's another level here right now."

* * *

DeBoer made several line changes that got the Devils going. He moved Dainius Zubrus to the line with Alexei Ponikarovsky and David Clarkson while putting Patrik Elias between Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk.

"A couple of changes in the lines. They worked out good," Elias said.

Elias will wait to see if the league decides to punish him further for boarding Montreal's Mike Blunden. Elias received only a minor penalty, which angered Canadiens coach Randy Cunneyworth. Blunden did not return because of a lower body injury.

DeBoer also used Jacob Josefson more extensively. He said Josefson had “his best game since he’s been back.” He also praised Steve Bernier and defenseman Andy Greene.

Rich Chere: rchere@starledger.com; twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils