<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-21105" title="Kovalchuk" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Kovalchuk.png" alt="" width="600" height="220" srcset="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Kovalchuk.png 600w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Kovalchuk-300x110.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px">
UPDATED 10/24/10 @ 6:03 PM: &nbsp;Ilya Kovalchuk will indeed be back in the lineup tonight. &nbsp;Neither coach nor player would discuss why he was scratched but the results were more than likely not expected. &nbsp;The Devils lost last night 6-1 without their superstar and <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups?team=30">have shuffled their lines.</a>
UPDATED: &nbsp;Kovalchuk has been a healthy scratch for the first time this season. &nbsp;Through his first seven games, the 27-year-old has only five points.
The New Jersey Devils recalled rookie Alexander Vasyunov to play in tonight’s game, in place of superstar Ilya Kovalchuk. &nbsp;Head coach John MacLean seemed to have played this news very close to the chest as there is no word on why.
For the Devils lines, click <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups?team=30">here</a>.

Ilya Kovalchuk back in the lineup tonight