The Devils take a four-game win streak into their matchup against the Red Wings at Prudential Center.
"Our job now is to get back into the mindset of playing as hard as we need to be able to play," coach John Hynes said. "Not dip our toe in the water tonight. I think sometimes you have a good feel where it is. Guys had a pretty good focus today, they were going today. I think they're excited to play. Now it's just about making sure we have the work ethic we need to win."
A fully healthy forward group will be available for Hynes. Both Kyle Palmieri and Brian Boyle missed part of the last game against Chicago for precautionary reasons. On Christmas Day, the Devils received good news that both were healthy.
"It's nice," Hynes said. "They're two very important players for us. We're going into this stretch where we have a tight stretch of games and then we go into a break again. You get into a stretch where you're playing a lot of hockey. I think it's important to be healthy going into it. Or at least the luxury to be able to come in with 14 healthy forwards and basically eight healthy defensemen."
Tweet from @NJDevils: After leaving Saturday���s game due to precautionary reasons, @kylepalmieri and @BriBrows22 are participating in #DETvsNJD morning skate! pic.twitter.com/iqs944tjrj
Both Boyle and Palmieri will be in the lineup Wednesday against the Red Wings.
"Good to go, had some time to get everything close to 100 perfent," Palmieri said. "As close as you can get to 100 percent during a hockey season. Looking forward to getting going tonight."
"[I'm] itching to get back," said Boyle. "Hockey is fun right now, we're having a blast. We have to make sure that we are prepared to work as hard as we had been working. Especially after a break like this, to keep our momentum."
Hynes hosted a spirited morning skate in an effort to get the energy level back to where it needs to be after three days away from the rink.
"The players today had a lot of energy," Hynes said. "The practice today, you can see that it was good. I think everyone is excited to be back and get right back at it tonight."
The game marks a milestone in Hynes' career. He will coach in his 200th NHL game Wednesday night, all with the Devils. Assistant coach Jeff Ward will coach his 200th game with the Devils, and assistant coach Alain Nasreddine will coach his 200th NHL game, also all with the Devils.
The lineup will look like the following against Detroit:
Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Johansson-Zajac-Palmieri
Coleman-Boyle-Gibbons
Wood-Zacha-Noesen
Greene-Santini
Moore-Vatanen
Butcher-Severson
Schneider
