NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers confirmed shortly before 6 p.m. ET that center Brad Richards will not be in the lineup Tuesday night when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2).

Physical forward Micheal Haley, who was called up from Connecticut of the American Hockey League earlier in the day, will take Richards' spot in the lineup. It's not known if Haley will play center or if another forward will move to the middle.

Richards is still dealing with the after-effects (soreness, stiffness) of the check from behind Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta delivered during Sunday's shootout victory. Richards, who didn't miss a shift in the game Sunday, was driven headfirst into the left-wing boards; Kaleta was suspended five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Richards skipped practice Monday and briefly skated Tuesday morning at the team's suburban training facility, but he left the ice quickly and did not address the media.

NEW YORK -- Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh and Michael Del Zotto all will return to the New York Rangers lineup Thursday night at Madison Square Garden against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Nash missed four straight games with an undisclosed injury. He began skating on his own last week and with the team Tuesday.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Reinforcements are coming for the slumping New York Rangers.

Defenseman Ryan McDonagh declared himself healthy and ready to return to the lineup Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Right wing Rick Nash continued to sound optimistic about his status while still saying he won't know for sure if he'll be able to play for the first time in five games until he gets to Madison Square Garden.

Defenseman Michael Del Zotto (lower-body injury) also skated in a regular green practice jersey Thursday morning at the team's suburban training facility, but he left the dressing room before the media could speak to him.

PHILADELPHIA -- If Michal Neuvirth were healthy, he'd be starting in goal for the Washington Capitals in their NBCSN Wednesday Night Rivalry game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

"It would have been a good night to give Neuvy a start," Capitals coach Adam Oates said prior to the game.

Neuvirth, though, is not healthy or even here, so Oates confirmed that Braden Holtby, who made 33 saves in a 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, will make his eighth consecutive start.

PHILADELPHIA -- Forgive the Washington Capitals for seeming insensitive, but the news that Michal Neuvirth is ill and won't be able to play Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers isn't exactly devastating.

It's the exact opposite.

Of course, the Capitals would prefer to have Neuvirth healthy and with them on this trip to Philadelphia, but the fact that he's ill means Braden Holtby will make his eighth straight start and second in as many days.

That's good news for a team that has won two straight and five of seven, including a 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, due in large part to Holtby's 33 saves.

New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (back) has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 24, meaning he will not be eligible to play until at least Monday.

The Devils play at the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday and at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

"It's just a precaution," New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello said, according to Rich Chere of the Newark Star Ledger. "It's a day-to-day situation. He's still feeling uncomfortable. It would be foolish to go X number of hours on a plane to Winnipeg."

For the first time in nine days, Rick Nash returned to the ice in a regular practice jersey for the New York Rangers' morning skate Tuesday. However, Nash sidestepped questions about when he will be able to return to the lineup and did not specify the nature of his injury.

The Rangers, who also have not disclosed Nash's injury, play the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Nash missed the past three games due to the injury and it's unlikely he will play against the Jets, although he wouldn't rule himself out completely.

"I'm feeling good, getting better," Nash told reporters at the team's training facility in Greenburgh, N.Y. "It's a positive day for sure when you get back out and skate with the guys. I don’t know about tonight. Obviously, I'll talk to the trainers. But it was a good day to get a good skate in."

NEWARK, N.J. -- Martin Brodeur was supposed to start for the New Jersey Devils on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets, but Johan Hedberg is getting the call instead. Hedberg will start for the second time in as many days.

Brodeur left the ice early during warmups and did not return. A team spokesman said Brodeur has "a little soreness, will be re-evaluated tomorrow."

Hedberg gave up five goals on 26 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

Here are the projected lineups for a game Sunday between the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets at Prudential Center:

DEVILS

Bobby Butler - Adam Henrique - Ilya Kovalchuk

Patrik Elias - Travis Zajac - David Clarkson

Alexei Ponikarovsky - Andrei Loktionov - Steve Bernier

Krys Barch - Jacob Josefson - Stephen Gionta

Bryce Salvador - Marek Zidlicky

Andy Greene - Adam Larsson

Anton Volchenkov - Mark Fayne

Johan Hedberg
Martin Brodeur

JETS

Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler

Evander Kane - Alexander Burmistrov - Nik Antropov

James Wright - Olli Jokinen - Antti Miettinen

Eric Tangradi - Jim Slater - Anthony Peluso

Grant Clitsome - Dustin Byfuglien

Ron Hainsey - Zach Bogosian

Mark Stuart - Paul Postma

Ondrej Pavelec

Edward Pasquale

NEWARK, N.J. -- Both the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets will have fresh faces in the lineup Sunday night after they each suffered tough losses Saturday.

The Devils, who were beaten 5-1 in Washington on Saturday, will welcome back center Jacob Josefson, who was recalled from Albany of the American Hockey League earlier in the day. Ryan Carter was put on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 18 to make room for Josefson, who was sent down to Albany a week ago after he managed only one assist and a minus-8 rating in 15 games.

Josefson will play center on the third line with Stephen Gionta moving to the wing. Devils coach Peter DeBoer said rookie Stefan Matteau "is a little banged up," so he will sit.

"We've rolled four lines for most games here, at least early, so he's gotta make the most of his opportunity," DeBoer said of Josefson.

The Jets, who blew a two-goal lead and lost 5-3 in Philadelphia on Saturday, will have forwards Antti Miettinen and Anthony Peluso in the lineup. Miettinen will be making his season debut while Peluso will be playing in just his second game of the season.