:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72245707/1252513486.0.jpg "Timo Meier injury update: Devils wing game-time decision for Game 1 vs. Hurricanes")
New Jersey Devils F Timo Meier is being considered a game-time decision for Game 1 of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs vs. the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. The Devils and Hurricanes open their series at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. at 7 p.m. ET. Meier was hit in the head by New York Rangers D Jacob Trouba in Game 7 of their first-round series on Monday night. Meier was unable to return but did make it back to the bench. Here we'll update on his status for Game 1.
Timo Meier injury updates
The hit was pretty vicious though Meier was able to skate Wednesday morning at practice on the third line with Dawson Mercer and Yegor Sharangovich. That's encouraging enough but we won't know for sure if Meier will play until pregame warmups around 6:30 p.m. ET.
If Meier is unable to go, head coach Lindy Ruff can go in a few directions. Skating seven defensemen may not be a bad idea. We could see rookie D Luke Hughes make his NHL playoff debut if that's the case. Or veteran Brendan Smith will draw in. Smith did skate in some capacity as a forward this season and in his career. He could provide some toughness as well.
The most logical move would be F Curtis Lazar draws in on the fourth line and Michael McLeod jumps up. McLeod has been skating up and double shifting with the top-9 forward group this postseason. Lazar could draw in but play limited minutes, mostly on the penalty kill. One of Jesper Bratt, Tomas Tatar or Ondrej Palat would move up to the first power-play unit as well. Palat has been seen on that first unit these playoffs, so that should be the route Ruff goes.