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Devils say Zidlicky, Volchenkov ready for Eastern Conference finals

Tampa Bay Lightning v New Jersey Devils

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 26: Marek Zidlicky #2 of the New Jersey Devils skates in warmups prior to his first game for the Devils against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Prudential Center on February 26, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Bruce Bennett

Despite taking huge hits in Tuesday’s Game 5 ouster of the Philadelphia Flyers, both Marek Zidlicky and Anton Volchenkov will be good to go for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final, according to Devils head coach Peter DeBoer.

“I would expect them to,” DeBoer told NorthJersey.com when asked if the two defensemen would play.

Zidlicky was shaken up after Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds hit him into the boards.

The New Jersey blueliner was slow to get up and didn’t play for the remainder of the contest. He hasn’t practiced since or been made available to the media, but that could be due to New Jersey’s organizational mandate of intense secrecy regarding injury.

As for Volchenkov, he was rattled after this huge hit from Zac Rinaldo midway through the opening period.

Volchenkov went to the locker room for a short time after the hit, but returned later in the period and took a regular shift for the remainder of the game.