NEWARK, NJ -The Devils held a full morning skate at Prudential Center Thursday afternoon. The biggest news was the return of forward Yegor Sharangovich, who left the team's contest Tuesday against the New York Rangers after engaging in a fight with Braden Schneider.
Sharangovich did line rushes and is ready to rejoin the lineup.
"It was great to see him. He's good to go," head coach Lindy Ruff said.
Absent were forwards Nathan Bastian and Jimmy Vesey with lower-body injuries.
"(Bastian) is doing better. He will not skate today," Ruff said. "(Vesey) was evaluated. It's nothing serious. He's going to miss a little bit of times. It just depends on how that reacts day-to-day."
The team used the following workflow…
Sharangovich - Hischier - Bratt
Tatar - Zacha - Mercer
Kuokkanen - Boqvist - Zetterlund
Greer - McLeod - Johnsson
Siegenthaler - Severson
Graves - Hamilton
Smith - Subban
Hammond
Total Recall
With the rash of injuries at the forward position, which includes losing Jack Hughes for the season, the club recalled forwards A.J. Greer and Fabian Zetterlund from Utica of the American Hockey League. Greer, who is 25, is getting older and trying to stick in the NHL. Every time he gets into the lineup, he's fighting for his career.
"It's very thrilling. It's exciting. I'm just ready to be on the ice and play another game," Greer said. "I'm 25 years old now so I understand the lay of the land. For me, it's just to be ready whenever that chance comes. I was so grateful to get the call two nights ago and I'm ready to go here."
Zetterlund, 22, is on the cusp of the beginning of his NHL career. He had a three-game taste in late November and is getting another look now. The Swede is the leading goal scorer (24) and point producer (52) for Utica, this after combining for only 15 goals total in his first two years. He also has eight power-play goals.
Zetterlund pointed to a few reasons as to why his goal and point production have dramatically increased this season.
"When I get the puck I always look for the net," he said. "I didn't do that before. Now I do it every shift. Now I'm not afraid to take the shot. … I worked on it in the summer, always taking the shot before the pass."
Zetterlund will be used as a flank on the Devils power play and skate on the third line, which is different from his previous callup when he worked more on a fourth-line checking role.
"I think the look that he's going to get now with the amount of players that we have out will be a lot of better look," Ruff said. "He should embrace the opportunity to get some power-play time and play up the lineup.
"Our power play this last little while has struggled. I think we have to get back to simplifying, to shooting. I think we put him on the flank and get him shooting pucks. He's been real comfortable down there doing it. We'd like him to have that same look up here."
Hamming it Up
Devils goaltender Andrew Hammond appears to be the club's starter tonight. And it would come against his former team. The 34-year-old netminder played three games for Montreal and one for the Devils this season in the NHL. Though he suffered a 7-6 loss in his only start for New Jersey, against Florida, there are reasons to expect a better showing.
"Coming off an injury, not quite being 100 percent, getting in a game and a couple good practice days we feel that he can help us between the pipes," Ruff said. "The first game was a tough finish but we know what he can bring."
PREVIEW
DEVILS (24-40-6) vs. CANADIENS (19-40-11)
TV: 7:00 p.m. ET; Televised on MSG+ 2
Head-to-Head
The Devils and Canadiens meet for the third and final time of the season. New Jersey triumphed in both of the opening contests, 7-1, Feb. 8 at Montreal and a 3-2 shootout, March 27 at Prudential Center.
Devils team scope:
The Devils are trying to end a four-game losing skid (0-3-1), which includes dropping the opening three games of a four-game homestand.
But dropping more currently are forwards in the lineup. The club lost center Jack Hughes for the remainder of the season to a low grade MCL sprain in his left knee. New Jersey also lost forwards Nathan Bastian, Yegor Sharangovich and Jimmy Vesey. The club recalled Fabian Zetterlund and A.J. Greer from Utica.
Canadiens team scope:
A year after competing for the Stanley Cup, the Canadiens have the worst record in the NHL with just 49 points and a league-low 19 wins. Things have a changed a bit with Martin St. Louis taking over as head coach, but it's still a long road ahead. Under St. Louis, who took over Feb. 17, the Habs are 11-8-3.
Nick Suzuki is the club's leader in goals (18), assists (33) and points (51) while Cole Caufield ranks second with 35 points and third with 16 goals. Josh Anderson has 17 tallies on the year.
By the Numbers:
Devils captain Nico Hischier has only been held scoreless in three of his past 15 games, totaling 17 points (5G-12A).
Rookie Cole Caufield has broken out big time under the new leadership. Before the change, he had one goal and eight points in 30 games. Since the change, he has 15 goals and 27 points in 25 games.
Injury Updates:
Devils
Blackwood (heel - IR)
Bernier (hip - IR)
Hughes (lower-body)
Bastian (undisclosed)
Vesey (undisclosed)
Sharangovich (Undisclosed)
Canadiens
Drouin (wrist)
Gallagher (lower-body)
Price
Weber
