Devils Notebook: A Significant Blueline Return, Vanecek to Miss Stadium Series

There was a lot to digest coming out of the New Jersey Devils’ Thursday morning skate. 

First, Ondrej Palat is a game-time decision. There’s an illness bug making its rounds in the Devils’ locker room. Palat was absent this morning, however, could be in the lineup tonight depending on how the rest of Thursday shakes out for the veteran.

One of the first skaters to step onto the ice, in a regular contact jersey mind you, was defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. The Devils defenseman suffered a broken foot on Jan. 6th against the Vancouver Canucks. However, is seemingly on track to rejoin New Jersey in game action soon. 

Siegenthaler didn’t jump into regular rushes this morning. Instead, he skated with Nick DeSimone as an extra. It appears he is unlikely to join the Devils tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. However, Saturday at MetLife Stadium doesn’t sound like it’s out of the question.

Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek is out of the question for Saturday, however, Devils head coach Lindy Ruff explained.

“It’s the injury now that’s keeping him out,” Ruff said. “No real update yet, but we’ll get you one as soon as we can.”

“He will be out (Saturday).”

Vanecek is over the illness that he caught a few days ago, yet still deals with the lower-body injury.

Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton will not be back for Saturday, either. That was never really on the table anyway. Hamilton’s timeline has remained late April or early May. Ruff explained there hasn’t been an update on his status, although they might provide one soon.

“I really don’t have an update (on Hamilton),” Ruff said. “We’ll get an update, I didn’t realize Tom had given that as a date. We know he’s quite an aways away.”

The Devils host the Kings in Newark tonight. LA is coming off a brutal 7-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and the Devils are tasked with keeping an angry Kings squad at bay. Here’s what New Jersey will be working with tonight.

Devils Pre-Game Workflow

Forwards

*Chris Tierney – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt

Jack Hughes – Erik Haula – Tyler Toffoli

Timo Meier – Curtis Lazar – Dawson Mercer

Alexander Holtz – Tomas Nosek – Nathan Bastian

Chris Tierney

Defensemen

Kevin Bahl – Simon Nemec

Luke Hughes – John Marino

Brendan Smith – Colin Miller

Jonas Siegenthaler– Nick DeSimone

Goaltenders

Nico Daws (projected starter)

Akira Schmid

*Fill in for injured/ill player

How to Watch

Time: 07:00 PM

Watch/Stream: MSGSN/MSG+

Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

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