Devils’ Jake Allen out against Maple Leafs; Nathan Bastian to return
New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe provided several lineup updates heading into Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Most notably, Keefe confirmed that goaltender Jake Allen will miss the game with an upper-body injury, while winger Nathan Bastian will return to the lineup.
News from the morning’s optional:@NJDevils HC Sheldon Keefe says Nate Bastian will return to the lineup tonight. Legare, MacDermid & DeSimone are the scratches. Also, Jake Allen’s absence is not expected to be long term. Getting more treatment today. Isaac Poulter will backup.
— Matt Loughlin (@MattLoug) December 10, 2024It’s unclear as to what caused Allen’s injury, as he played the entirety of Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, so either he suffered it during the game and played through it or suffered it after the fact. Keefe mentioned that the injury isn’t expected to be long term, and Allen will get more treatment on Tuesday for it.
Allen allowed 3 goals on 23 shots against for an .870% save percentage in the loss. He has otherwise been solid for the Devils so far this season, with a 5-4-1 record, a .904% save%, two shutouts, and 2 goals saved above expected in 10 games this season.
Goaltender Isaac Poulter has been recalled from the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, in response to the injury to back up for Jacob Markstrom in Tuesday’s game. Poulter has a 2-4-2 record and an .871% save percentage in 9 games with the Comets this season.
Bastian will return to the lineup after missing the past 16 games with a jaw injury that he suffered in a fight against Calgary Flames winger Ryan Lomberg on November 1st. The Devils had gone 11-5-0 in Bastian’s absence.
Bastian has 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in 12 games this season.
Based on the lines run during Monday’s practice, Bastian will slot in on the fourth line alongside Justin Dowling and Tomas Tatar. The trio has played 12:12 of ice time together this season, outscoring the opposition 1-0 and sporting a 59.78% 5v5 expected goal share in that time.
Nathan Legare will not only be taken out of the lineup in place of Bastian, but he was also sent down to Utica as a corresponding move to make room for Poulter on the Devils’ roster. Legare had gone without a point in 3 games with New Jersey.
The Devils will look to bounce back from Sunday’s loss to the Avs when they host the Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. EST. New Jersey currently sits in second in the Metropolitan Division with an 18-10-2 record.