It was speculated yesterday that Travis Zajac would return to the Devils’ lineup tonight, but now it’s a fact.
Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice reports that Zajac will play tonight and be on a line with Alexei Ponikarovsky and Ilya Kovalchuk. With Zajac back for the Devils, and presuming he doesn’t have any further soreness from his Achilles injury this season, it gives them a sturdy top three at center with Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias.
What will be most interesting to see is how Zajac fits in with Kovalchuk who has been Mr. Everything for the Devils this season. Kovalchuk is having perhaps the most well-rounded season of his career and you’d have to think that coach Peter DeBoer knows that he’ll help Zajac fit in with ease during his first game back. DeBoer says he plans on playing Zajac for about 15 minutes tonight, mirroring what Sidney Crosby did in his return to the Penguins lineup recently.
