New Jersey Devils Against New York Islanders Gameday Thoughts (Nov. 7)

Third times a charm? Let's do it with the third edition of the pregame thoughts. This time, it's with the New Jersey Devils facing the New York Islanders on Saturday night at UBS Arena (7:00 PM start). 

Before diving in, let's look at these two teams. 

The Devils (11-5 & 2nd in the Metropolitan Division) are averaging 3.50 goals per game (9th in the NHL) & allowing 2.94 goals per game (8th in the NHL). 

The Islanders (7-6-2 & 5th in the Metropolitan Division) are averaging 2.80 goals per game (9th in the NHL) & allowing 2.87 goals per game (6th in the NHL). 

Here are five thoughts ahead of the game on Long Island. 

1) The Devils have had recent woes at UBS Arena, losing their last three road games to the Islanders while getting outscored 17-1. The only meeting this season was a 6-0 trouncing on the road. This is the game where the Devils want to get their revenge. 

2) They also want to shrug off the play from the recent game against the St. Louis Blues, where they led 4-1 heading into the third period and allowed three unanswered goals before Jesper Bratt scored the game-winner in overtime. The Devils not only want to keep the winning streak alive but also play a dominant brand of hockey where they run up the score but also defend well. 

The Islanders are also looking for a bounce back. They lost back-to-back games, and a three-game losing streak will put them eight points behind the Devils in the standings, one of the teams they will fight for a playoff spot against by the end of the season. 

3) Can the Devils maintain the momentum on the offensive end? During their three-game winning streak, they've outscored their opponents 14-9. However, they'll have their hands full against the Islanders' defense and, more importantly, against Ilya Sorokin, who has a .911 save percentage and a 2.41 goals-against average on 270 shots, with 5.7 goals saved above average. 

To beat an elite goaltender, the Devils need their skill to step up. More importantly, they must generate shots from the high-danger areas and the net front. It's where Nico Hischier, Luke Evangelista, and Anthony Mantha can make the difference. 

4) The Devils are watching Luke Hughes develop into a number one two-way defenseman. The Islanders have a generational talent on their blue line in Matthew Schaefer, who can take over games on the offensive end (he has four goals and 11 assists in 15 games) but is also a shutdown defenseman. 

The question is what the Devils can do to limit Schaefer from taking over the game. Considering his skill at the point, it's a game where the forwards must backcheck hard and chase down the plays, but also step up at the point in the offensive zone. 

5) Does this game set the tone for the road trip? The Devils have a three-game stretch against the Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs (Nov. 8), and Winnipeg Jets (Nov. 10). They went 2-1 in their previous three-game road trip and will look to do the same here, if not better. A win against the Islanders sets the tone.