The New Jersey Devils are set to face the Buffalo Sabres at the Prudential Center tonight, with a significant boost to their lineup. After a series of injuries and absences, key players are returning, injecting fresh energy into the team as they look to continue their winning ways.

Hughes Returns to Center the Offense

The biggest news for the Devils is the return of star center Jack Hughes. Hughes has been sidelined for the past 18 games after undergoing surgery on his finger. Prior to his injury, Hughes was leading the team in scoring with 20 points in 17 games. His return is expected to provide a massive boost to the Devils' offensive capabilities. Hughes himself confirmed his readiness to play, stating he would "ease his way back in". Coach Sheldon Keefe expressed his surprise at Hughes's quick recovery and confidence in his ability to play without limitations.

Meier and Gritsyuk Back in Action

In addition to Hughes, the Devils will also welcome back winger Timo Meier and forward Arseny Gritsyuk. Meier is returning after a five-game absence due to a family health matter. Gritsyuk is back after missing four games with an upper-body injury. Both players are expected to contribute significantly to the team's offense. With the return of Hughes and Gritsyuk, forward Nathan Légaré has been reassigned to Utica of the American Hockey League.

Devils' Recent Performance

The Devils have been playing well recently, winning four of their last six games. In their most recent game, they secured a 2-1 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom played a key role in the win, making 32 saves. Connor Brown has also been a significant contributor, scoring in both games against the Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Sabres' Streaking

The Buffalo Sabres come into the game riding a five-game winning streak. In their last game, they defeated the New York Islanders 3-2 in a shootout. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin scored goals in the game, while goaltender Alex Lyon made 32 saves. The Sabres have been averaging 3.6 goals per game during their winning streak while allowing just 2.2 goals per game.

Projected Lineups

While the exact lines are subject to change, a potential Devils lineup could look like this:

• Forwards: Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer – Cody Glass – Connor Brown, Ondrej Palat – Juho Lammikko – Stefan Noesen, Paul Cotter – Luke Glendening – Angus Crookshank
• Defensemen: Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon – Colton White
• Goaltenders: Jake Allen, Jacob Markstrom

The Sabres' projected lineup is as follows:

• Forwards: Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Josh Doan, Noah Ostlund – Josh Norris – Alex Tuch, Zach Benson – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
• Defensemen: Rasmus Dahlin – Owen Power, Bowen Byram – Mattias Samuelsson, Michael Kesselring – Zach Metsa
• Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon

Keys to the Game

For the Devils, a key will be integrating Hughes back into the lineup and capitalizing on their improved offensive depth. Defensively, they will need to contain the Sabres' top scorers, including Thompson and Tuch. For the Sabres, continuing their strong offensive play and maintaining their defensive discipline will be crucial. Goaltender Alex Lyon will need to continue his stellar play.

The Devils and Sabres face off at 7:00 PM ET.