NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils

Devils forward Patrik Elias (26) is robbed by Lightning goalie Evgeni Nabokov Friday night at Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)

NEWARK — Devils coach Pete DeBoer confirmed that Czech forwards Patrik Elias and Martin Havlat are being tested for mumps.

Both players missed practice Monday because of illness and two others on the team — Travis Zajac and Adam Larsson — have already dealt with cases of the mumps. It is a disease that has spread throughout the NHL.

“I don’t know if they have mumps. I know they’re sick. God, I hope not,” Zajac told NJ Advance Media on Monday.

Coach Pete DeBoer said he couldn't confirm or rule out that the two players have mumps.

“Not confirmed mumps. That’s all I have. Anytime someone is sick we have to consider that, so they’re being tested,” DeBoer said. “We don’t have any results. Obviously there’s a chance that it is, for sure.”

General manager Lou Lamoriello said: "I have no confirmation that they have it and I have no confirmation that they don't. So we don't know. I'd like to hope not, but I have no indication."

Defenseman Marek Zidlicky spoke to Havlat on Sunday.

“Marty said he doesn’t feel well,” Zidlicky said. “That’s all I can say.”

Is he worried about mumps?

“Probably,” Zidlicky said.

With Elias and Havlat now sidelined, the Devils did not have enough healthy players to ice four complete forward lines in practice Monday. And they even had Mike Cammalleri back from a groin injury.

The Devils returned forwards Mike Sislo and Tim Sestito to Albany (AHL) Sunday, but Sestito was called back.

“I was in Albany,” Sestito said. “Quick turnaround. I’m putting the miles on.”

Even if Cammalleri can play against the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night at Prudential Center, the Devils will need to call a player up. That is, of course, unless Havlat or Elias make a miracle recovery or Dainius Zubrus is able to play after missing another practice with a skate cut to his left leg.

There is also the option of dressing seven defensemen and using Eric Gelinas or Peter Harrold as a winger.

“It you don’t laugh about it you’d cry,” DeBoer said of the injuries and illnesses. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Not just the sickness but some of the things we’ve dealt with here for the first 35 games. To key people, too. You have to work through it and we’ll go from there.”

Zajac said he has never seen anything like it.

“On this team? No. I can’t remember it at all,” the center said. “It’s almost laughable now, the games missed by players on this team. It would be nice to get a full lineup here after Christmas some time.”

If Elias and Havlat have mumps, it may be a significant wait.

“It’s just tough not having a full lineup and getting some chemistry with lines,” Zajac said. “No one feels sorry for us. You still have to win hockey games. You have to find a way to win and we still have enough in here to definitely get the job done and kind of weather the storm until were get everyone back.”

Rich Chere may be reached at rchere@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ledger_NJDevils. Find NJ.com on Facebook.