Overview
- Hughes confirmed after the morning skate that he will play against Buffalo and said he will ease back in.
- Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Timo Meier and rookie Arseny Gritsyuk are also returning to the lineup.
- The Devils went 8-10-0 without Hughes, with goals per game falling from about 3.35 with him to 2.28, and they enter the night 20-14-1 with 41 points, fifth in the Metropolitan Division.
- Veteran Jake Allen is projected to start in goal against a Sabres team on a five-game win streak.
- Ticket demand spiked with Hughes’ return, with reports expecting a sellout crowd of 16,514 at Prudential Center.