Hughes has already missed 11 games this season, eight with his current ailment, and although he still has a week-to-week prognosis, he appears to be making progress toward returning. The Devils have struggled, going 3-5 with Hughes out of the lineup.

DeSimone was a healthy scratch for the last five games for the Calgary Flames and was placed on waivers on Wednesday. The 29-year-old defenseman has five points (1G / 4A), 19 shots, 12 hits, and 21 blocks in 23 games this season.

Markstrom will start for the second straight game on Thursday when the Flames host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Markstrom struggled in his return from a lower-body injury on Tuesday, allowing four goals, three unanswered, on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a heart-breaking last-minute 4-3 regulation loss to the St. Louis Blues. The Flames, losers of three straight, are -179 home favourites against a Blue Jackets team that has been outscored 8-2 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Palat last played on December 30th, missing the last 10 games, but will return to the lineup on Thursday after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. In 35 games this season, Palat has 14 points (5G / 9A), his lowest point-per-game pace since his rookie season in 2012-13.

Despite Vitek Vanecek winning his last two starts, including a roller-coaster 6-5 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Devils' last game, the Devils will likely return to Daws between the pipes on Thursday night. Daws has dropped three straight games (0-3-0), including his worst performance of the season in his last outing, allowing six goals on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The struggling Devils, losers of five of seven (2-4-1), are +140 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes club that played last night, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2.

The Devils have recalled Misyul from the Utica Comets of the AHL in correspondence to Cal Foote taking an indefinite leave of absence. In his first professional season in North America, Misyul has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 30 games with Utica.

The Devils have recalled Dowling from the Utica Comets of the AHL in correspondence to Michael McLeod taking an indefinite leave of absence. The 33-year-old Dowling has 19 points (8G / 11A) in 30 games with Utica this season.

DeSimone has been a healthy scratch the last two games and was placed on waivers by the Flames on Wednesday. The 29-year-old defenseman has five points (1G / 4A), 19 shots, 12 hits, and 21 blocks in 23 games this season.

Palat last played on December 30th, missing the last 10 games, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. In 35 games this season, Palat has 14 points (5G / 9A), his lowest point-per-game pace since his rookie season in 2012-13.

Markstrom has battled a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for the last three games but will return to the crease on Tuesday. The 33-year-old netminder is riding a three-game winning streak, saving 93 of 99 shots (.939 SV%) in the process. The Flames, without Markstrom, have lost two straight games but are -169 home favourites against the St. Louis Blues, coming off a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals.

Markstrom has battled a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for the last three games but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday. The 33-year-old netminder is riding a three-game winning streak, saving 93 of 99 shots (.939 SV%) in the process. The Flames, without Markstrom, have lost two straight games but are -169 home favourites against the St. Louis Blues, coming off a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals.

Justin Barron drew back into the lineup last week in favour of Kovacevic, who has been a healthy scratch the last three games. Kovacevic played 13:18 time-on-ice in his last game and will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday as Barron has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL.

Markstrom has battled a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for the last three games but appears to be nearing his return. The 33-year-old netminder is riding a three-game winning streak, saving 93 of 99 shots (.939 SV%) in the process. His next opportunity to play will be on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

Hughes has already missed 10 games this season, seven with his current ailment, and although he still has a week-to-week prognosis, he appears to be making progress toward returning. The Devils have struggled, going 2-5 with Hughes out of the lineup.

Allen has watched from the sidelines as the Canadiens have been outscored 15-6 in their last two games (0-2-0), including a 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The Senators will turn to Allen in the crease on Tuesday in a rematch against the Senators as he looks to build on a stellar showing in his last performance, a 32-save (.914 SV%) showing in a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Hatakka has not played an NHL game since a nine-game stint with the San Jose Sharks in the 2021-22 season. The Sharks' sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has spent most of the last three seasons in the AHL, playing with the San Jose Baracuda and the Utica Comets, registering 23 points (5G / 18A) in 77 games.

Markstrom missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but Dustin Wolf was sent back to the AHL on Sunday, suggesting the Markstrom is back to 100 percent. Dan Vladar went 1-2-0 with a. 2.64 GAA and .909 SV% while Markstrom was out.

With the Devils' placing Brendan Smith (sprained knee) on the Injured Reserve Thursday, Santeria Hatakka has been recalled to the Devils' for the first time this season. The 23-year-old defensemen has appeared in 28 games for Utica (AHL) this season, and had two goals, nine points, 22 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He previously last appeared in nine NHL games in 2021-22 with San Jose.

Hughes is battling an illness but, despite not participating in the morning skate on Wednesday, will suit up for the Devils' contest against the Montreal Canadiens in the evening. Hughes has been held without a point in three straight games but was on a roll before that, scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in a six-game span.