Devils D Mottau returns from suspension

Nov 30, 2008 - 12:15 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- New Jersey Devils defenseman Mike Mottau is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday's contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins after serving a two-game suspension.

Mottau, who forfeited $8,198.92 of his salary, delivered an open-ice check to Frans Nielsen 3:22 into the third period of New Jersey's 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday, sending the Danish center to the locker room with multiple leg injuries. Nielsen is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.

Mottau was given a minor penalty for elbowing Nielsen before New York's Trent Hunter confronted him and instigated a fight.

The 30-year-old Mottau has five assists in 19 games this season. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Quincy, Massachusetts has collected four goals, 25 points and 72 penalty minutes in 118 career contests with the New York Rangers, Calgary Flames and Devils.