Andrew Gross

Staff Writer, @AGrossRecord

Michael Cammalleri missed the last six Devils' games because his 5-year-old daughter was hospitalized with pneumonia and eventually required surgery, the veteran left wing said this morning. Cammalleri returned to the team today to participate in the morning skate and will be in the lineup tonight when the Devils face the Maple Leafs at Prudential Center.

Cammalleri, 34, said his daughter, Chloe, is now back home and the family expects a "full recovery."

"She had a case of pneumonia that got pretty severe," Cammalleri said. "She had to get admitted to the hospital so I originally few out of Buffalo (on Nov. 11). At that point, her situation worsened over a couple of days. She had to have surgery. We're very fortunate it was a successful surgery. We expect a full recovery so we feel very fortunate for that. She's just recently come home, released from the hospital and it's good to have her home.

"It's your worst nightmare but we're fortunate she's going to make a full recovery," Cammalleri added."

Also for the Devils, coach John Hynes confirmed that defenseman Yohann Auvitu will be back in the lineup after missing the last three games. Auvitu said he injured a left finger when he was hit by a puck in a 2-1 overtime win at Dallas last Tuesday, which was the Devils' last victory.

The Devils come into tonight's game having lost three straight in regulation - their first three-game losing streak of the season - and off Monday's 4-0 loss at San Jose to conclude the four-game, Western Conference swing.

Cammalleri, who has three goals and three assists in 12 games, and Auvitu, who has a goal and two assists in 15 games, should add some more punch to the Devils' offense, which will again be missing Kyle Palmieri tonight, with the right wing listed as day to day with upper-body soreness.

Both Cammalleri and Auvitu will be on the power play, which is 0 for 29 over the Devils' last nine games.

"It's nice to be back playing for sure," Cammalleri said. "It's a lot of fun to be here with the guys today. You miss being in the battle with one another."

Added Auvitu, "I was out 48 hours because I got a shot against Dallas and I couldn't move my finger. But, after that, I was fine. I was ready to play. I was just out. I've been through that in my career in Finland. It's not the first time. I have to rebound.

"To be honest, it was the first time in my life I watched an NHL game (live)," Auvitu said. "Obviously, I'd rather play it. I think you can learn a couple of things by watching but I always believe you can learn by doing, not by watching."

Auvitu said while watching the last three games, he believes "maybe, sometimes, I could have a little bit more time with the puck, to have better puck poise and not play too fast."

Auvitu said the struggling power play is close to connecting and that it's a matter of converting some rebound chances.

"The spiral can go back up, it can change really quick, and I believe it will," Auvitu said.

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