NEWARK, N.J. _ No excuses are offered or allowed for makeshift lineups caused by injuries.
But that doesn't lessen the Devils' frustration as they head into the All-Star break on a four-game losing streak. The Predators beat the short-handed squad 3-0 on Thursday night at Prudential Center, spoiling rookie goalie Ken Appleby's strong first NHL start.
Those missing for the Devils included both No. 1 goalie Cory Schneider and backup Keith Kinkaid, All-Star and leading scorer Taylor Hall, left wing Marcus Johansson, out with his second concussion of the season, and forward Brian Gibbons.
Appleby made 24 saves for the Devils (24-16-8), who have lost four straight in regulation for the first time this season and are in a 2-7-3 slide. The Devils have been shut out in back-to-back home games and for the fifth time this season.
Pekka Rinne made 25 saves for the Predators (29-11-7), his fourth shutout this season.
Schneider, who exited this Tuesday night's 3-2 loss at Boston after the second period, joined Kinkaid as sidelined with a groin injury. The Devils listed Schneider as day to day and did not put him on injured reserve as Kinkaid was placed retroactive to Saturday, when he left a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia at 12:15 of the first period after giving up three goals on seven shots.
There's a decent chance, then, that Schneider will be available once the Devils return from the All-Star break with a game at Buffalo on Tuesday night. Kinkaid, who skated on Thursday morning and is eligible to come off injured reserve after the All-Star break, may also be available.
The Devils recalled Mackenzie Blackwood, 21, from Binghamton (AHL) to back up Appleby.
The Devils had hoped Hall, out with an injured right thumb, would be available to face the Predators. Instead he missed his third straight game and his availability to play in his third straight All-Star Game is now in question, though the Devils believe he should be ready to face the Sabres after the break.
Forward Kevin Rooney, 24, an undrafted free agent out of Providence, was recalled Thursday afternoon and centered Brian Boyle and Jimmy Hayes on an all-Massachusetts fourth line.
Blake Coleman, normally on the fourth line, started the game on second-line center Travis Zajac's left wing while Pavel Zacha centered rookie Jesper Bratt and Kyle Palmieri on the top line. Without Hall for the top line, No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier was placed in between Miles Wood and Stefan Noesen.
The Predators took a 1-0 lead on P.K. Subban's blast from the left point at 9:48 of the second period, ending Appleby's shutout streak to start his NHL career at 93:18 as he stopped the first 42 shots he faced before yielding a goal.
Appleby made 24 saves after relieving against the Flyers and stopped the four shots he saw in the third period against the Bruins.
Ryan Johansen beat Travis Zajac on a left-circle draw in the Devils' zone after Austin Watson was not penalized for driving Severson into the left boards. Severson crawled for a few feet before being attended to on the ice. He finally skated gingerly to the Devils' bench without putting weight on his left leg and headed to the Devils' room.
Mattias Ekholm made it 2-0 at 5:36 of the third period with a shot from the top of the left circle that deflected in off Palmieri. Viktor Arvidsson capped the scoring with a short-handed goal _ the eighth the Devils have allowed this season _ off a two-on-one rush at 15:11 of the third period.
Appleby opened the game with 10 first-period saves, including stuffing Nick Bonino at the right post in the first minute and Kyle Turris in the same spot at 10:37.
The Devils did get traffic to Rinne's net and Hischier hit the far post on second-period wraparound and Noesen hit the post on a mid-range shot in the third period.
