NEWARK, N.J.- The New Jersey Devils will once again be without the services of forwards Pavel Zacha (undisclosed) and Jesper Bratt (lower-body) for Sunday afternoon's series finale against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center.
However, Devils head coach Lindy Ruff anticipates that they may rejoin the team shortly.
"Both guys are getting close," he said. "We're hopeful that maybe within a game or two they'll be back."
FOOT STEPS
The loss of Zacha and Bratt, the team's top two scorers, has created an opening for other players to get into the lineup. As such, another player making his NHL debut this season will be 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward Nolan Foote.
"You may see him with a couple different people, a couple different linemates at different times," Ruff said, "we'd really like him to have a first game that he can remember."
Foote, who was the a first-round pick (27th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft by Tampa Bay, has played 20 games this season with Binghamton of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old has posted six goals and 16 points.
"A real big body. I know he's got a wicked shot," Ruff said. "He can use his body down low to create his own chances. Physically he can be a tough guy to play against. I know it's his first game, but I think when he's on the puck, he's a tough guy to take it from. And he brings a lot of energy."
The Devils acquired Foote and a 2020 first-round pick from the Lightning in exchange for Blake Coleman.