Martin Brodeur is gradually moving closer to returning from his back injury. He was on the ice again Saturday morning, facing shots from the assistant coaching staff and D Mark Fayne, who was a healthy scratch.

"He’s looking better and I don’t think he’s too far off," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said.

Left wing Dainius Zubrus, who is recovering from Feb. 14 left wrist surgery, also skated with a stick – but didn’t shoot or handle the puck.