Devils captain Salvador returns from injury

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- After more than two months, the New Jersey Devils are expected to have their captain back in the lineup Saturday night.

Bryce Salvador, who injured his foot during a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 22, skated Saturday morning and will return when the Devils face the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

"It's been a while, so I'm excited to get back at it and just be back playing," Salvador said.

Salvador was averaging about 20 minutes per game prior to sustaining the injury. The Devils have been inconsistent in his absence but enter the game against the Islanders in a four-way tie for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The 37-year-old defenseman is eager to help New Jersey as it aims to gain ground in the race to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Every time you're not playing, you learn to miss the game even more," said Salvador, who has two assists in nine games. "I'm excited to be back and help the team make the playoffs and get another run going here.

"You miss the teammates and the competition and just the whole atmosphere of being involved in something with a lot of excitement. I'm just excited to be back and competing. It's hard to replicate anywhere else."

Coach Peter DeBoer said he had not decided on whom to scratch to make room for Salvador.

Dainius Zubrus - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr

Mattias Tedenby - Patrik Elias - Steve Bernier

Reid Boucher - Adam Henrique - Michael Ryder

Ryane Clowe - Andrei Loktionov - Stephen Gionta

Andy Greene - Mark Fayne

Eric Gelinas - Marek Zidlicky

Anton Volchenkov - Bryce Salvador / Jon Merrill

Cory Schneider

Martin Brodeur

Scratched: Tim Sestito, Jacob Josefson, Cam Janssen

Injured: Adam Larsson (lower body), Peter Harrold (foot), Ryan Carter (lower body), Damien Brunner (knee)

Follow Brian Compton on Twitter: @BComptonNHL