Newark, NJ – New Jersey Devils wing Ilya Kovalchuk is set to return to the lineup Saturday after missing 11 games with a right shoulder injury.
Kovalchuk was hurt during the third period of a March 23 win over Florida when he fell into the boards awkwardly while trying to avoid a check from a Panthers defender. His return, coincidentally, will come against the Panthers.
The Devils went 0-6-4 in the first 10 games of Kovalchuk's absence, snapping the losing streak with a 3-0 win in Philadelphia on Thursday. New Jersey still has slim postseason hopes, but a regulation loss on Saturday would end those.
Kovalchuk entered Saturday's action with 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 32 games.
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