Curtis Lazar Returns to Devils Lineup Against Blues

It is official: Curtis Lazar will return to the New Jersey Devils lineup on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center.

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The 29-year-old forward suffered a lower-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 27. The club announced Lazar underwent a successful left knee procedure a few days later.

He returned to the ice for his first practice on Dec. 13, skating with Colton White, the team's seventh defenseman. At the team's next practice, he rotated in centering the fourth line with Justin Dowling.

"It has been a long couple of months, but also kind of flew by," Lazar said after Monday''s practice. "My body is in a good place. It is nice to be around the guys. The laughs, the banter, the work, it is all fun."

"Curtis, this is his first real, hard, full practice with us today," Keefe said Monday. "Very encouraging sign."

Ahead of the team departing for their road trip, Keefe continued to say the versatile veteran would travel with the group and is considered day-to-day.

Lazar centered the fourth line with Tomas Tatar and Nathan Bastian at the team's morning skate in St. Louis.

After the team's skate, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that Lazar would return to the lineup as well as Tatar who has been a healthy scratch for the past couple of games.

Through 12 games, Lazar has one goal and one assist. Both came over his last four games before his injury was sustained. Dowling has been playing in Lazar's spot as the fourth-line center.

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