PHILADELPHIA – Slowed by a back injury that the Devils are calling lower body, Ilya Kovalchuk didn't help the team much in a Game 1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.



Nevertheless, the psychological impact of losing Kovalchuk for Game 2 Tuesday night could be significant.



"Not at all," captain Zach Parise insisted today. "If anything, we all know we have to be that much better. There will be no emotional letdown."



Other players were willing to admit losing Kovalchuk is tough psychologically.



"Yes. But Kovy will tell you when he didn't feel well, you need healthy guys. Half of Kovy… at the end of the day this is a team sport, so I believe we'll just work our butts off as a team. It's not about one guy. We know what Kovy brings to the table every night and his offensive skills. He's a threat out there every time.



"Listen, no one can (deny) when he plays at the top of his game what a great player he is. He's a big part of our team and he's dangerous. He makes the other team think. He hasn't been himself. He obviously has been hurting a little bit. This is a decision they made. We're going to have guys playing more minutes, on different lines in different situations. But it happens. It happens throughout the regular season, throughout the playoffs and you have guys stepping in."

Coach Pete DeBoer said he wasn't worried about the loss of Kovalchuk impacting the Devils psychologically.

"No, this is a tough, resilient group," the coach said. "I don't think that's an issue at all."

DeBoer said it has been obvious that Kovalchuk was struggling on the ice and not able to play up to his capabilities.

“Yes. I see the same things you guys see. Anyone who has watched this series here closely has seen that.”

Yet Parise said he didn’t notice.

“I wasn’t watching,” Parise said, holding back a smile.

Elias was watching.

“He was fine in the locker room. I think he had a good attitude about it,” he said. “You have guys on every team playing hurt. He’s done it for a while. Obviously when he felt he can’t play to his potential and cannot be helpful to the team you have to make that decision,” Elias said. “That’s up to him and the coaching staff and everfybody. We came to that point today and we’ll deal with it tonight.”

DeBoer used these lines in the morning skate:

Parise-Elias-David Clarkson

Petr Sykora-Travis Zajac-Dainius Zubrus

Alexei Ponikarovsky-Adam Henrique-Steve Bernier

Ryan Carter-Stephen Gionta-Peter Harrold

DeBoer was asked if Sunday's game was the breaking point for Kovalchuk, who did not get a single shot on goal.

"Playoffs you try and play through things until you can't anymore and that's where we're at," DeBoer said. "I don't have anything more to say about the details of it. You play until you can't play anymore."

Kovalchuk missed five games during the regular season Nov. 5-15 with a lower body injury. This injury is his back.

* * *

Harrold will be moved from defense to right wing.



"I think I'm comfortable there. I can bring some speed. The main thing is getting in on the forecheck and disrupting the guy on the puck," Harrold said.

He will also switch points on the power play but said he isn’t sure if he will also see time on defense. He isn’t worried about switching positions at this point.

“It’s not too bad. I’ve done it a little bit in L.A. and I’ve done it some here this year. I’m familiar with the system, so that helps the comfort level,” he said. “Hopefully I can maybe get a goal or something. That would be great.”

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