It was “Try Again Time” for Turner Stevenson.

The Devils’ right wing last night was attempting his fifth comeback from the strange ailment that first sidelined him last April.

Most recently, the 31-year-old had missed 12 games with an infection related to the Sept. 30 testicular surgical procedure.

He returned to the lineup for the first time Dec. 6 when the Oilers visited the Meadowlands, opening a three-game Devils homestand.

“This morning I skated with the team and [I also skated] the one day before they left for Washington,” Stevenson said of his lack of practice time with the squad. “Other than that, it’s been [working with fitness consultant] Vladdie Bure, four days real hard.”

Stevenson played the first eight games of last year’s playoffs, leaving the lineup for Game 4 of the second-round series against Tampa with what was diagnosed as a groin strain. He came back a first time for the first two games of the third round against Ottawa, left the lineup again, and didn’t return until the final three games of the finals.

He rested most of the summer, came to training camp pronouncing himself fit for his third comeback, but lasted only four days before the pain he described as “excruciating” returned. This time, the Devils went the surgical route, and his return was delayed slightly because of an infection. He made his season debut Oct. 30, played 17 straight games, then left the lineup again Dec. 10 with the recurring infection.

“I feel good. It was more frustrating than anything because the injury was non-hockey related,” Stevenson said.

He is hoping that this time, nothing else will happen.

“Everything was fine. Coming back the last time, I felt as good as I felt. My knee and groin were fine. It felt good right up until it happened,” Stevenson said.

His treatment this time was a regimen of antibiotics, and he said they were heavy-duty.

“They [doctors] said they’re confident the antibiotics worked better this time that they did last time. They don’t know why the infection keeps coming back,” Stevenson said.

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Igor Larionov returned to the Devils’ lineup after missing two games with a knee bruise . . . Devils returned Toumas Pihlman and Craig Darby to Albany, recalling Aleksander Suglobov . . . Eric Rasmussen and Paul Martin were expected to remain idle . . . Oilers signed defenseman Igor Ulanov, who had been playing for Edmonton’s Toronto Roadrunners AHL affiliate . . . Devils will hold their annual coat drive tomorrow when Penguins visit.