The New Jersey Devils have activated forward Ondrej Palat off long-term injured reserve and he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Blues, the team announced.
Palat underwent successful groin surgery on Nov. 1 after playing the first six games with the Devils this season and has been out since. Prior to his injury, he scored three goals on eight shots.
The 31-year-old comes back to a Devils team that has taken significant steps forward, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division with a 24-11-3 record.
Palat joined the Devils over the summer via free agency after winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning, signing a five-year deal with a $6-million AAV in New Jersey.
The team also announced that goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will be out as a precaution after taking a puck to the hand at morning skate in Detroit.