Ilya Kovalchuk (shoulder) is hoping to play in at least one of the Devils' two games this weekend.

Of course hoping is much different from actually playing. We will try to update you prior to Saturday's 1:00 pm start time as to whether Kovy will be suiting up.

Ilya Kovalchuk (shoulder) was upbeat after Friday's practice.

"I felt the best so far that I felt," Kovalchuk said. "I feel pretty confident. I took a couple of one-timers and a little bit of contact, so it's good." Kovalchuk wouldn't say if he'll be available for Saturday's game and it's worth noting that he skated on the fifth line Friday. With that in mind, we'll continue to consider him questionable for the Devils' upcoming contest.

New Jersey coach Pete DeBoer isn't looking very far into the future when it comes to Ilya Kovalchuk's possible return from a shoulder injury.

Kovalchuk won't play Thursday night, which will mark the 11th straight game he has missed, but DeBoer wouldn't commit to shutting the Devils' star player down for the rest of the regular season if the team is eliminated from playoff contention. "I don't know," said the New Jersey bench boss. "I'm taking this day to day, literally. I'm not looking beyond if he's not ready for Philly, let's look at Florida [on Saturday]."

Ilya Kovalchuk (shoulder) will not travel with his Devils teammates to Philadelphia for Thursday night's match against the Flyers.

It will mark the 11th straight game Kovalchuk has missed. New Jersey has posted a 0-6-4 record since he exited the lineup with a shoulder injury.

Ilya Kovalchuk (shoulder) will practice again Wednesday but remains day-to-day.

Kovalchuk has been skating and practicing with the Devils but there remains no definitive timeline for him to return to the lineup. Kovalchuk has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury March 23, during which time the Devils have yet to win a game and have likely fallen out of the playoff chase.

Ilya Kovalchuk (shoulder) missed his 10th game in a row Monday night against Toronto.

Kovalchuk skated on his own Sunday rather than practice with his teammates and did not even accompany the team to Toronto. However, he might be available on Thursday. Needless to say, losing the Russian native proved very costly in the New Jersey Devils' bid for a playoff spot.

Ilya Kovalchuk (shoulder) might be available on Thursday.

"I would call him day to day," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. "My conversation with him before we left New Jersey is he had a good day (skating) yesterday morning and he was going to try and have another good one today and we would talk tomorrow morning." The Devils have lost nine straight games without him, but will try to end that streak on Monday.

Ilya Kovalchuk (shoulder) has been ruled out for Monday's game.

Kovalchuk isn't even traveling with the team at this time. He's already missed nine straight games and the Devils have lost every single one of those contests.

Not great news for those hoping Ilya Kovalchuk could return on Monday: he didn't practice on Sunday.

That doesn't guarantee that he'll sit out tomorrow's game, but it isn't a promising sign. Hopefully your league allowed you to place the New Jersey Devils' star on the IR.

It doesn't look like Ilya Kovalchuk, who still ailing from a shoulder injury, will be ready to play Monday night in Toronto.

He said he may "need a few more days just to get the strength back in the hand and in the shoulder" and that he doesn't expect to travel with the team. Kovalchuk isn't taking slap shots or one-timers yet, but he is snapping wrist shots and skating with his Devils teammates at practice. It should be noted though that coach Pete DeBoer hasn't completely ruled Kovalchuk out for Monday's contest.