New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler participated in practice on Thursday for the first time since sustaining his lower-body injury on Feb. 4.
Siegenthaler remains questionable for Friday’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Newark, N.J. The Hurricanes lead 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
“We’re going to see where he’s at and continue to talk to him,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It’s his first practice with the team in a long time, so it’s just a matter of being aggressive. … Time’s not exactly our friend right now, so we’re going to see where he’s at and continue to have conversations with him.”
Siegenthaler, 27, has been able to skate on his own the last few weeks.
“I think he’s changed his mindset, as have we, in terms of his preparation,” Keefe said. “It was more so he was going to be a May type of timeline, and we’re getting more aggressive with that now to see how we can push it just given the circumstances.”
Siegenthaler of Switzerland had nine points (two goals, seven assists), a plus-9 rating, 44 penalty minutes, 92 blocked shots and 75 hits in 55 games this season.
He has 66 career points (10 goals, 56 assists) with a plus-32 rating, 207 penalty minutes, 612 blocks and 463 hits in 367 regular-season games with the Washington Capitals (2018-21) and Devils. He also has three points (one goal, two assists) and a minus-10 rating in 22 playoff games with the Capitals and Devils.