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.
Bowers played the last three games for the Devils, being held without a point while averaging under seven minutes time-on-ice. The 24-year-old Bowers will return to the Utica Comets of the AHL, where he has seven points (6G / 1A) in 29 games this season.
Dustin Wolf was recalled yesterday in correspondence to Markstrom's lower-body injury but his stay could be short-lived after Markstrom returned to practice on Wednesday. The Flames were victorious with Daniel Vladar between the pipes last night, but Markstrom has been the driving force behind the Flames' four-game winning streak, allowing only six total goals while posting an impressive .939 SV% in three of those wins.
Justin Barron will draw back into the lineup in favour of Kovacevic, who will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday. Kovacevic played 13:18 time-on-ice in Monday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
Meier has not played since December 30th, when he exited a game against the Boston Bruins with a mid-body injury and has missed six games since. He will re-enter the Devils' lineup on Wednesday on a line with Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer. Before his injury, Meier had four points (4G / 0A) in four games after being held without a point in nine straight.
Hughes is battling an illness but, despite not participating in the morning skate on Wednesday, is expected to 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.
Daws has given the Devils their first glimpse of consistent goaltending this season, and he will start for the third straight game on Wednesday. Since making his debut towards the end of December, Daws has allowed more than three goals on once in five games (3-2-0), sporting a respectable 2.63 GAA and .921 SV%, a significant improvement over the netminding the Devils received up to that point from Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. Daws and the Devils have a favourable matchup on Wednesday and are -174 home favourites against the Montreal Canadiens, who have lost three of their last four (1-1-2).
Meier has not played since December 30th, when he exited a game against the Boston Bruins with a mid-body injury and has missed six games since. He is expected to re-enter the Devils' lineup on Wednesday on a line with Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer. Before his injury, Meier had four points (4G / 0A) in four games after being held without a point in nine straight.
Daws has given the Devils their first glimpse of consistent goaltending this season, and he will likely start for the third straight game on Wednesday. Since making his debut towards the end of December, Daws has allowed more than three goals on once in five games (3-2-0), sporting a respectable 2.63 GAA and .921 SV%, a significant improvement over the netminding the Devils received up to that point from Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. Daws and the Devils have a favourable matchup on Wednesday and are -174 home favourites against the Montreal Canadiens, who have lost three of their last four (1-1-2).
Markstrom is dealing with a lower-body injury which has prompted the Flames to recall Dustin Wolf from the AHL. Markstrom has been the driving force behind the Flames' three-game winning streak, allowing only six total goals while posting an impressive .939 SV%.
Daws will start for the second straight game on Monday afternoon after a heroic performance in his last outing, saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in a 4-1 victory, snapping the Florida Panthers' nine-game winning streak.
Allen will be back between the pipes for the Habs for the first time since January 4th, as Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau split the netminding duties over Montreal's previous four games. Allen struggled his last time out, allowing five goals on 37 shots enroute to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Sabres. He owns a disappointing 4-8-2 record on the season along with a .900 SV% and a 3.52 GAA. He'll have his hands full again on Monday as the Canadiens host Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche.
