Elias out, Zajac possible for Devils on Thursday

New Jersey Devils wing Patrik Elias is feeling better but won't travel to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, general manager Lou Lamoriello said Wednesday.

"Hopefully we'll get him back skating in the next few days," Lamoriello said of the 37-year-old forward who has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury.

Center Travis Zajac, who missed the past two games with an ankle sprain, skated Tuesday and felt better, was back at practice Wednesday and could return against the Flyers, according to Lamoriello.

The GM also provided an update on defenseman Jon Merrill, who was injured on the third shift of his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. Merrill left the game with facial lacerations.

"Every test came back normal. … It's a matter of four or five days," Lamoriello said.

Merrill had been recalled from Albany of the American Hockey League due to multiple injuries to veteran Devils defensemen. Peter Harrold and Anton Volchenkov were among them, and each practiced Wednesday.

The Devils recalled wing Cam Janssen from Albany, a move Lamoriello said was made "to just bring a little different dimension" to the lineup. Janssen had one assist and 15 penalty minutes in 11 AHL games.