NHL

Devils’ Clarkson out 4-6 weeks

It will be 2010 before the Devils see David Clarkson back in their lineup.

Clarkson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks recovering from a hairline fracture of his right leg, presumably the tibia, above the ankle. Clarkson suffered the injury in blocking a Zdeno Chara shot 2:20 into the Devils’ 2-1 shootout victory in Boston on Saturday. He did not play in the Devils’ 6-1 victory over the Islanders yesterday in Newark.

“That [4-6 weeks] is a lot better than some of us might have expected,” Jamie Langenbrunner said.

Clarkson remained in Boston overnight Saturday, stitched up from the cut that shot also caused. He left the lineup tied for second on the team with seven goals.

Refraining from hurrying Rob Niedermayer back from the separated shoulder that has idled him since Nov. 4, the Devils recalled Vladimir Zharkov from Lowell, as well as Ilkka Pikkarainen from his conditioning stint there.

Clarkson joins Niedermayer, Johnny Oduya (groin/hip), Paul Martin (broken arm), Jay Pandolfo (shoulder dislocation) and Dainius Zubrus (cracked kneecap) on the Devils’ injury list. Oduya and Pandolfo are expected to join the team in practice tomorrow, with Niedermayer already practicing with the squad.

mark.everson@nypost.com