WASHINGTON, DC - The Devils could get Jack Hughes back in the lineup tonight as they take on the Capitals in D.C. The rookie forward left the game in Toronto due to illness but was back on the ice this morning after the off day yesterday.
"Yeah, it was obviously helpful," said Hughes. "I feel better. So it was good to have the day off and kind of just lay in bed and try to try to sleep a little bit."
Should Hughes play, he likely slots in between Pavel Zacha and Wayne Simmonds.
Kevin Rooney is also a game-time decision with an illness.
NEW TOP LINE
With Kyle Palmieri still on the mend back in Jersey, the top line is in a bit of a blender. In searching for the right combination, Interim Head Coach Alain Nasreddine has elevated Miles Wood to that spot with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt.
"Obviously, his speed is a factor," said Nasreddine. "If you look at his last few games, he's been effective using that speed. He's good on the forecheck, he'll get over pucks, create stops, so I think that's an element that will benefit Nico and Bratter."
"Just stick to what I'm doing," Wood said of the opportunity. The only reason why I'm there is because Nas and the coaches see something that I'm doing that could possibly help them.
"So just stick to what I'm doing, play my game. Of course, they're skilled and stuff like that but that shouldn't change me and how I approach this game."
DOMINGUE GETS THE CALL
Despite being pulled in Toronto, Louis Domingue has the trust of his coach to go back out there against a dangerous Capitals team. He had a great performance in the last game in D.C., backstopping the Devils to a victory.
"I like to give guys an opportunity to bounce back," said Nasreddine. "And he had played well the previous two games… and last time we played Washington, he had a strong game and he handles the puck well, which is a plus when you face a pretty good forechecking team like Washington."
PROJECTED LINEUP
Wood-Hischier-Bratt
Coleman-Zajac-Gusev
Zacha-Hughes-Simmonds
Boqvist-(Rooney Game-Time Decision)-Hayden
Greene-Subban
Severson-Vatanen
Butcher-Mueller/Carrick
Domingue
Schneider
-- Chris Wescott, NewJerseyDevils.com