With Kaapo Kahkonen battling a lower-body injury, the Devils have an easy decision to turn to Allen between the pipes. Allen has been solid since joining the Devils, posting a 2.73 GAA and .913 SV% in 10 games (5-4-1), including saving 29 of 30 (.967 SV%) in relief of an injured Kahkonen on Sunday, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. The Devils enter action on Tuesday as +103 home underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
New Jersey Devils News
Kahkonen has a 2.92 GAA and .918 SV% in five games (1-3-0) since joining the Devils ahead of the trade deadline. Akira Schmid has been recalled from the Utica Comets (AHL) as Kahkonen battles a lower-body injury.
Schmid has been recalled from the Utica Comets (AHL) as a result of Kahkonen battling a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old Schmid has split time between the AHL and NHL this season but has struggled at both levels, posting a 3.15 GAA and .895 SV% in 19 games with the Devils (5-9-1).
Willman played the last four games for the Devils and scored two goals while averaging less than seven minutes of ice time but will return to the Utica Comets (AHL). The 29-year-old Willman has 21 points (11G / 10A) in 31 games with Utica this season.
Marino received a fighting major and a game misconduct two seconds into Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers and did not return to the game after suffering an undisclosed injury and subsequent game misconduct. The 26-year-old Marino has 25 points (4G / 21A) and 83 blocks in 71 games this season and will travel with New Jersey to Ottawa on Saturday, but will decide on his availability in the morning.
Wendt is an undrafted 23-year-old out of Michigan who has spent the last three seasons playing collegiate hockey. He scored 44 points (23G / 21A) in 38 games with Western Michigan University in the 2023-24 season.
Willman will unfortunately be the odd man out as Kurtis MacDermid (lower body) returns to the Devils' lineup on Wednesday vs. the Rangers. The 29-year-old Willman will lose his seat for some strength in the lineup but has played very well in a limited role this season, with three goals, four points,17 SOG and two PIMs in 18 games played while averaging only 8:19 TOI/GP.
MacDermid has missed the Devils' previous four games due to a lower-body injury but will return for the second half of their back-to-back on Wednesday vs. the Rangers. The 30-year-old bruising hybrid player chose a good day to return as many are expecting him to finally square up with New York's Matthew Rempe. He has an assist, three SOG and 30 PIMs in 10 games played with the Devils since being acquired at the trade deadline.
Kahkonen will man the Devils' crease for the first time in four games and his fourth time since being acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline. The 27-year-old has played exceptionally better during his time with the Devils, as proven by his 1-2-0 record, 2.17 GAA and .934 SV% since being traded. He will head to New York to take on cross-town rivals in the Rangers, who have won five of their last six games and have the NHL's fourth-best powerplay this season (25.7%).
DeSimone will be the odd-man out on the Devils' blue-line as Jonas Siegenthaler returns from his concussion. DeSimone has two goals and five assists in 32 games this season.
Siegenthaler has been sidelined with a concussion since March 11th. He'll draw back into the Devils' lineup as they continue to make a push for an unlikely postseason bid. The Devils did not confirm who will come out to make room for Siegenthaler, who has nine points (1G / 8A) in 49 games this season.