MORNING SKATE RECAP
NEWARK, NJ - The Devils held an optional morning skate at Prudential Center ahead of hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Only eight players took part in the skate. Those were forwards Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Erik Haula, Nathan Bastian, Kurtis MacDermid, Nathan Légaré, defenseman Nick DeSimone and recently recalled goaltender Isaac Poulter.
Bass Pro
Bastian will return to the lineup for the Devils tonight. He’s missed the past month with a jaw injury. He’s been practicing with a shield.
“He’s got more experience, a little more size,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He can help us on the penalty kill and in some defensive situations. Some fresh legs coming into the lineup. I know he’ll be excited to play after missing some time. He’s an important guy for us in our room. He brings lots of positive energy. It’ll be good to bring him back to the group.”
Bastian last played Nov. 1 at Calgary. He missed 16 games in that stretch.
Goalie Situation
The Devils recalled Poulter this morning and he participated in the morning skate. He will backup Jacob Markstrom for tonight’s game as Jake Allen is out with an undisclosed injury.
“Jake is not available for us,” Keefe said. “We don’t expect it to be anything long term. Just get him a little more treatment, see how it goes from there. Take it a day at a time.”
Leafs Scout
The scouting report on the Maple Leafs…
“They are an offensive threat. They have a lot of really skilled, fast forwards that know how to make plays and take advantage of small opportunities,” Bratt said. “They’ve also been really dialed in defensively. Last time we played them it was hard to get through the net front, hard to create chances. They’re tracking hard and they’re good off the rush. We’ll have to manage pucks well and played good with the puck.”
“They have premier players, difference makers. Also their team play, they make it hard to get to the net,” Keefe said. “And their goaltending has been as good as there is in the league. Lots of challenges. We just have to lead with our work ethic, our competitiveness, make sure we’re ready to skate, compete at a high-level tonight. Hopefully we can make some differences when the opportunities present themselves.
Frenemies
Keefe is facing his former team for the second time this season. And at this point, the novelty has worn off.
"It feels a little more like just another game on the schedule," he siad. "We saw them once already. It was so fresh and new. But here, now, preparing for them, it feels like another team, another great team on the schedule."
