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Ilya Kovalchuk won’t be working for the weekend

Ilya Kovalchuk

New Jersey Devils left winger Ilya Kovalchuk (17), of Russia, stretches during an NHL hockey training camp Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP

Ilya Kovalchuk’s lower body injury is going to keep him out of action for the Devils’ home-and-home set with the Capitals.

Devils coach Peter DeBoer confirmed today that Kovalchuk will miss tonight and tomorrow’s games with his leg injury and that while it’s tough that he’s out now, they want to make sure he can keep it going in the long run. Vladimir Zharkov was called up to take his place in the lineup.

Kovalchuk’s absence also means we’ll get to potentially miss out on another fun post-game chucklefest between him, Alex Semin and Alex Ovechkin. Last year the two were able to get Bruce Boudreau’s feathers all ruffled by having a loud laugh after a game that saw the Devils roll over the Caps.