Devils’ Niedermayer Doubtful for Game

New Jersey’s Scott Niedermayer, who sat out Saturday’s Game 5 loss to Toronto because of a concussion caused by an elbow from Tie Domi, made the trip to Toronto with the Devils on Sunday, but is doubtful for Game 6 today, Coach Larry Robinson said.

“I don’t know if he’s ready,” Devil captain Scott Stevens added. “He looked a little tired when I saw him. It’s nice to see him.”

The defending Stanley Cup champions, who trail, 3-2, in the series, were in a bigger hole last year in the Eastern Conference finals, and rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Philadelphia Flyers.

So being down 3-2 heading to Toronto isn’t daunting to a team that finished the regular season winning 19 of 21 games.

“We have the character in this room to do it,” defenseman Brian Rafalski said. “We’ve been down before. It’s not the end.”

One of the NHL’s most talented teams, New Jersey has been inconsistent since building a 3-0 lead over Carolina in the opening round of the playoffs. The discipline that has been the trademark of its success in the playoffs the last two seasons has been mysteriously absent during major portions of games.

“We just don’t play smart,” goaltender Martin Brodeur said. “I can’t understand it.”

A Toronto Sun photographer has withdrawn his complaint against Pat Quinn after accusing the Maple Leaf coach and general manager of grabbing him by the neck.

Stan Behal called the confrontation “regrettable” and said “it is a matter I would like to put behind me.”

He had lodged an assault complaint Friday. He said Quinn grabbed and shoved him while he was photographing Domi on the way to a disciplinary hearing at the NHL’s Toronto office.

“I accept Pat Quinn’s apologies and I have already been in contact with Toronto police to request the charge against Mr. Quinn be withdrawn,” Behal said.

“I would not want this matter to be a distraction for Pat or the Toronto Maple Leaf organization in their quest for the Stanley Cup.”

Waiting for their next opponent, the St. Louis Blues recalled nine players from the minors to get an up-close look at the playoffs.

Among those recalled was Sebastien Bordeleau, Vladimir Chebaturkin, Justin Papineau, Jame Pollock, Pascal Rheaume, Dwayne Roloson, Mark Rycroft, Mike Van Ryn and Matt Walker from Worcester of the AHL.

The players formed the core of a Worcester squad that won the AHL’s New England Division title.