Devils Get Big Lineup Boost at Unfortunate Cost vs. Avalanche

The New Jersey Devils welcome Luke Evangelista and Connor Brown back to the lineup for Tuesday's matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. Evangelista returns to the top line alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier after missing three games due to illness. Meanwhile, Brown is set to make his regular-season debut on the fourth line after recovering from a lower-body injury suffered in late September.

To create space for the returning forwards, head coach Sheldon Keefe will scratch rookie Amadeus Lombardi and veteran Stefan Noesen. Lombardi has recorded three assists in eight games while showing strong underlying possession metrics, but he sits alongside Noesen as the Devils manage roster constraints and look to improve their struggling penalty kill.