Playoffs 2000:Nemchinov out, Madden in for Game 6

Nemchinov out, Madden in for Game 6
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Forward Sergei Nemchinov missed Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals because of a 40-stitch cut, but the New Jersey Devils got a break when rookie John Madden surprisingly returned to the lineup Wednesday night.

Madden injured his right knee in Game 2 of the series with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Devils never gave a diagnosis but Madden was expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks.

"I could not wear a helmet," Nemchinov said of why he didn't play in Game 6. He said he's not sure he could play Friday if a Game 7 was necessary.

Nemchinov sustained a gash along the left side of his forehead after being checked by John LeClair of the Flyers in the second period. He never returned to Monday night's game.

"Of course I was scared," he said. "I wasn't thinking anything."

Nemchinov said he did not lose consciousness on the hit.

Nemchinov was one of the Devils' more consistent players in the playoffs with three goals and an assist in 15 games. Madden had two goals and two assists in 12 games before being injured in a collision with the Flyers' Keith Primeau.

Madden is a key performer on the Devils' penalty-killing units, which have allowed two goals in 46 attempts, tops in the NHL this postseason.