Game Day: Islanders vs. Devils
Islanders play their first game against tri-state rival Devils
Following a defeat at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, the New York Islanders (2-2-2) begin a weekend back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils (5-4-1). Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. with the Islanders feed available on MSGSN2
New York struggled against New Jersey last season, going 1-2-1 in four matchups against them last season. However, their most recent matchup was a 4-1 win on April 15 that saw the Islanders punch their ticket to last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
WHERE THEY STAND:
The Devils return home on the second game of a back-to-back, opening against the Red Wings in the Motor City. The two teams traded goals all night long, with New Jersey breaking the ice in the first period on a Nico Hischier goal. The Red Wings took the lead into the dressing room on goals by Christian Fischer and Andrew Copp. The Devils got the game even in the second on a goal by Erik Haul, and the game came down to the closing minutes. Dylan Larkin and Hischier traded power-play goals, but Patrick Kane scored the dagger with 3:32 left in regulation, also on the man advantage. Michael Rasmussen scored into an empty net to ice away a 5-3 Red Wings win.
Before their game on Thursday, it was these same Red Wings that shut the Islanders out in their last time out. New York pressed early, but it was Kane who got Detroit on the board first in the opening frame. Despite continued pressure from the Islanders, outshooting the Red Wings 29-10, it was all Alex Lyon the rest of the way. His fourth career shutout paved the way for Detroit in the win.
NEW FROM THE ELMONTERS!
BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS PODCAST: ACROSS THE SOUND
OPPONENT LAST GAME: Red Wings 5, Devils 3
ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:
Holmstrom-Horvat-Barzal
Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri
Lee-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Cizikas-MacLean-Foudy
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
Reilly-Mayfield
Varlamov
Sorokin
MATCHUP TO WATCH: Mathew Barzal vs. Jake Allen
The matchup to watch features one of the Islanders’ struggling centerpieces to the offense. Mathew Barzal has been a thorn in the Devils’ side in his career, scoring six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 28 games lifetime against New Jersey. With Barzal struggling entering Friday’s game, it’s a good chance for him to get back on track against a goaltender who’s struggled against the Islanders.
Jacob Markstrom started Thursday’s game for New Jersey, meaning Jake Allen is probable to start the second game of the back-to-back Friday. Allen is 2-5-0 with a 4.39 GAA and .849 SV% against the Islanders, dropping his last meeting with them with four goals against on 19 shots. With the Devils coming off a loss on Thursday, he’ll need to be at his best with New York’s offense looking to break through and someone like Barzal on the other side.
WHO IS HOT:
Anders Lee leads active Islanders in goals and points against the Devils with 14 and 25, respectively. He recorded four assists across their four matchups last season. Barzal leads the Islanders in helpers against New Jersey with 18.
Kyle Palmieri is another name who has strong career numbers against the Devils. Palmieri, who spent five seasons with New Jersey before joining the Islanders, has six goals and 10 assists for 16 points against them in 15 games. Five of those goals and seven of those assists have come in an Islanders jersey.
The Islanders did not skate on Friday morning, but Semyon Varlamov is probable to start against the Devils. In 13 games against them, he is 9-4-0 with a 1.77 GAA and .935 SV%, most recently making 23 stops on 24 shots en route to a 4-1 win in the Islanders’ clincher.
OPPONENT NOTES:
Paul Cotter has been a surprise for the Devils to start the season. After joining New Jersey in a trade this offseason, he has five goals in his first 10 games to sit second on the team; Hischier leads the Devils with seven.
Timo Meier enters play on Friday on a four-game point streak. He has two goals and five assists for seven points in that span. His 10 points on the season are tied with Hischier for the team lead.
After missing most of last season due to a torn pectoral muscle, Dougie Hamilton has started to find his stride. The defenseman has a four-game point streak with a goal and three assists in that span.
Defenseman Brendan Dillon is two points short of 200 for his NHL career. He’s totaled 37 goals and 161 assists for 198 points across 902 games with five different teams.
QUOTABLE:
"We just gotta stick playing the right way, putting pucks on net, and get to the interior. And if we continue to do that, pucks will start to go in. So I think you can be more worried if you're not getting the chances. We're getting the chances. We can still get more, and we just have to capitalize on them." — Noah Dobson
"I think that's going to be the thing that lasts throughout the season. That's going to win us games down the stretch, and the scoring will come. But the defensive play needs to stay consistent throughout the year, and that's probably the biggest thing, which is shutting down other teams’ offenses.” — Kyle MacLean
"Now, Bo has one-time options from three of the four guys," Roy said. "He could go to Pageau, or he could go across to Palmeri; he is a great shooter. Or he could go on top [to Dobson]. On the other side, you have Barzy, who can go to the pocket (bumper spot) to Simon [Holmstrom], or going on top to Reilly, or go across to Nelson. — Patrick Roy on power play groups
Lines From Last Skate:
NOTES: *Allen will start with Markstrom starting on Thursday
Islanders Community:
Complimentary Parking!
Once again for the 2024-25 season, those that drive a BMW can receive complimentary single-game parking in the Emerald Parking lot.
Please click the BMW | Islanders image below for parking registration information,
Bo JG should step up and jolt the team if they want to save it!
Bottomline watching this team this year is not entertaining at all. It’s like watching paint drying and realizing that you don’t like the color as much as you thought!