Foote scores his first goal of the season in his second game back from an undisclosed injury.
“I just have to get going the first shift, and then it’ll come back."
Spoiler alert... it came back.
New Jersey Devils forward Nolan Foote made his long-anticipated season debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at Prudential Center after being sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
“It’s been a long year for him. Whenever you see a player battling to get back in the lineup, it’s not easy mentally to go through that for the course of the season," interim head coach Travis Green said during Tuesday's pregame media availability. "It’ll be good to have him back in the lineup and get a good look at him here."
"It’s been a tough year. I’m excited to play," Foote said of his season debut. "I’ve been rehabbing for a long time, trying to get back. I know there are four games left, but I just want to get in and show my game. I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements even being out. I’m excited."
In his first game of the season, he skated on the team's fourth line with Chris Tierney and Kurtis MacDermid playing 9:28. Statistically, it was a low-event return to the ice as he was not credited with a shot on goal, takeaway, blocked shot, or hit. He went 0-2 in the face-off circle.
In his second game of the season, against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, Foote made a positive impact on the ice.
In the first period, he celebrated his first NHL goal since Mar. 19, 2023. Toronto defenseman Mark Giordano skated behind his goal with the puck and attempted a pass up the ice to his teammate, David Kampf. Foote intercepted the pass. His backhand shot beat opposing netminder Ilya Samsonov at the 7:57 mark.
"I just want to try and help my team out as much as possible," Foote said to MSG host Erika Wachter. "I made a nice move, and it went in. It was a long road to recovery, and I'm happy to be back."
The 6-foot-3 forward finished Thursday's game playing a little over eight minutes. He was credited with one goal on three shots and two hits.
"I liked his game," Green said. "I think the first game, he hadn't played in a long time, he had to get his feet under him a little bit. I thought today was a step in the right direction."
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