Preview: Devils at Blackhawks

DEVILS (10-7-5) at BLACKHAWKS (15-6-3)
8:30 p.m. ET; CSN-CH, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV

Devils team scope

New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall will play after missing eight games because of a torn meniscus in his left knee. Hall was on the top line with center Adam Henrique and right wing PA Parenteau at the morning skate. "We'll get him right in there and I think we'll just manage [his ice time] as the game goes on," coach John Hynes said. "We'll see how he looks or see how he feels, but we're going to put him in and he's hopefully going to be a big factor on our team." The Devils are expected to make a corresponding roster move to activate Hall from injured reserve. The Devils placed forward Beau Bennett on injured reserve becase of a right leg laceration and recalled forward John Quenneville from Albany of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Quenneville, who will make his NHL debut, is a second cousin to Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. "It's funny how that worked out," said John Quenneville, who said he will have seven family members at the game. "It's crazy how it goes, I guess. It'll be a fun game." Goalie Cory Schneider will start for the Devils. Forward Reid Boucher was placed on waivers to make room for Hall on the roster.

Blackhawks team scope

Center Jonathan Toews will miss his fourth straight game and remains day to day because of an upper-body injury sustained in the Chicago Blackhawks' 2-1 loss at the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 23. Center Artem Anisimov will be in the lineup after he was struck by the puck on the inside of the right skate during the Blackhawks' 2-1 win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Anisimov took part in the morning skate Thursday and said he's fine. "When the puck hit me I thought it was going to be worse," he said. "But it's not and I'm happy." Had Anisimov been unable to play, the Blackhawks would've been without their top two centers. "The latter part of that game [against the Panthers], you're missing two centermen that play the majority of the game," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Certainly when you're missing your centermen, it's an important spot and big minutes. We definitely missed them." Goalie Corey Crawford will start for the Blackhawks, who are 9-1-2 at home.

Devils projected lineup

Taylor Hall -- Adam Henrique -- PA Parenteau
Michael Cammalleri -- Travis Zajac -- Kyle Palmieri
John Quenneville -- Pavel Zacha -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Miles Wood -- Vernon Fiddler -- Nick Lappin
Andy Greene -- Damon Severson
Yohann Auvitu -- Ben Lovejoy
John Moore -- Kyle Quincey
Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid
Scratched: Jacob Josefson, Jon Merrill, Sergey Kalinin
Injured:Beau Bennett (right leg laceration)

Blackhawks projected lineup

Artemi Panarin -- Artem Anisimov -- Patrick Kane
Ryan Hartman -- Vinnie Hinostroza -- Marian Hossa
Dennis Rasmussen -- Marcus Kruger -- Richard Panik
Andrew Desjardins -- Nick Schmaltz -- Tyler Motte
Duncan Keith -- Niklas Hjalmarsson
Michal Kempny -- Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling -- Brian Campbell
Corey Crawford
Scott Darling
Scratched:Michal Rozsival, Jordin Tootoo
Injured:Jonathan Toews (upper body), Trevor van Riemsdyk (upper body)

Status report

Hall had played earlier this season with Zajac and Parenteau. Hynes said he's looking for speed, skill, hockey sense and work ethic in putting Hall with Henrique and Parenteau. … Auvitu is returning to the lineup in place of Merrill, who will be a healthy scratch for the third time in the past five games. … Kalinin will not play because of an illness. … Toews is doubtful to play at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, but van Riemsdyk could play in that game.

Who's hot

In his past three starts Crawford is 2-1-1 and has stopped 105 of 110 shots (.955 save percentage). … Cammalleri has four goals and four assists in his past four games.