Goaltender Keith Kinkaid was recalled from Albany (AHL) on Tuesday and will serve as Johan Hedberg's backup for Thursday's game in Winnipeg.

Kinkaid practiced with the team, filling in for Martin Brodeur, who was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 24.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, head coach Peter DeBoer was uncertain whether or not Brodeur would travel to Winnipeg, where the Devils open a three-game road trip. They visit Buffalo on Saturday, Toronto on Monday.

Brodeur was forced to miss Sunday's start after experiencing tightness during warm-ups. He's off to an 8-2-3 mark with a 2.27 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and one shutout.

Kinkaid's status for the trip was also pending.

"We'll get that information on Marty and make a decision on that," DeBoer said.

Kinkaid, 23, is 17-11-5 for the Devils' top affiliate with a 2.69 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and two shutouts. He leads the club with 33 appearances.

This is the fourth recall for the 6-3, 190-lb. native of Farmingville, N.Y., who's looking to make his NHL debut.

"It's exciting," Kinkaid said. "I couldn't really sleep last night; I was pretty excited to get up here again, and just show them what I have in practice, see how much I've improved and just battle every day. I want to be the guy that always gets the recall and hopefully be up here for a shot. I just have to keep battling and working hard."

Kinkaid backed up Hedberg for six games from Oct. 15 to Nov. 2 last season, when Brodeur sat out with a shoulder injury.

"I had a lot of fun last year backing up," he said. "It's just exciting. Obviously you want to get a first game, but the time will come, hopefully. It starts in practice – you show them what you've got and hopefully they trust you enough to put you in a game. Just being with the team is an accomplishment in itself."

• Andrei Loktionov is riding a three-game point streak (1g-2a) and centered Adam Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk at practice. Travis Zajac, who scored his fourth of the year on Sunday, remained between Patrik Elias and David Clarkson. 

Stephen Gionta centered Alexei Ponikarovsky and Steve Bernier. Stefan Matteau, a left wing, anchored the fourth line with Krys Barch and Bobby Butler.

DeBoer wouldn't commit to keeping those lines for Thursday.

"Those lines today weren't in stone," he said. "We're a little all over the map. We'll come up with a lineup tonight and we'll have a center on the fourth line."

DeBoer didn't rule out the availability of Ryan Carter (upper body), who has been sidelined since last Monday's meeting with Ottawa.

"He's seeing a doctor this morning and we should have a report on him later today," DeBoer said. "He's feeling much better."