After snapping their six-game losing streak on Saturday, the New York Islanders (30-25-15) host the New Jersey Devils (34-33-4) for their third matchup of the season.
After snapping their six-game losing streak on Saturday, the New York Islanders (30-25-15) host the New Jersey Devils (34-33-4) for their third matchup of the season.
Puck drop from UBS Arena is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
The last time the two teams met was on Nov. 28, a 5-4 win for New Jersey in the closing seconds. The Islanders rallied for three goals in the second period to take a 4-2 lead, but the Devils countered with three of their own in the third. With the game tied in the final minute, Curtis Lazar finished a rebound play with 23 seconds left, giving the Devils a 5-4 regulation win.
Where They've Been:
Like the Islanders, the Devils enter on the second game of a back-to-back, dropping a Saturday night matchup with the Ottawa Senators. The Senators held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, but New Jersey got two goals in the opening minute of the second period to take a 2-1 lead. However, Ottawa's offense fired back with two goals in two minutes from Ridly Greig and Agnus Crookshank, giving them a lead they'd never relinquish. Ottawa scored the final four goals of the game en route to a 5-2 win.
Players to Watch:
With Semyon Varlamov playing Saturday's game, Ilya Sorokin will return to the crease for his 51st start of the season (22-18-11, 3.07 GAA, .907 SV%).
Sorokin enters play on a five-game losing streak, last surrendering five goals on 23 shots in a loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Against the Devils, he is 6-4-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .913 SV%, despite losing the last matchup with five goals against on 33 shots. The netminder let up five goals across the two meetings with New Jersey this season.
Two players enter Sunday's game on the verge of the 30-goal mark. Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat both have 29 goals on the season, while Horvat sits one point shy of 500 for his career.
All three players on the Islanders' top line tallied points in Saturday's victory. Anders Lee finished with a goal and assist, while Hudson Fasching and Mathew Barzal had a goal and two helpers. Fasching's three-point game was the first of his NHL career.
Lee tops the Islanders in goals against the Devils with 14 and enters play with points in six-straight games against New Jersey; the Islanders' captain has two goals and four assists in that span. Barzal leads in the remaining categories with 18 helpers and 24 points, including a four-game point streak with a goal and six assists.
New Jersey completely revamped their goaltending since their last meeting with the Islanders, with Jake Allen and Kaako Kahkonen joining the team via trade.
With Allen starting on Saturday, Kahkonen will face the Islanders. in his 30th start of the season (6-22-2). He dropped his last outing against Arizona with three goals against on 15 shots. In four career games against New York, he is 3-1-0 with a 3.21 GAA and .904 SV%, last making 35 saves in a 5-4 win on Dec. 5 with the San Jose Sharks.
Jesper Bratt tops the Devils in each offensive category on the season, totaling 23 goals, 45 assists, and 68 points.
Jack Hughes has put up strong performances against New York in their prior matchups. He had a four-point night on Oct. 21 and added three more in their last matchup, totaling three goals and four assists overall.
Hughes' dominance this season against the Islanders helped him seize the team lead in goals against New York with eight. Ondrej Palat leads the active roster in the remaining offensive categories with 15 assists and 19 points; Dougie Hamilton has matched those stats but is out indefinitely with a torn pec.
New York Islanders Projected Lines:
Brock Nelson - Bo Horvat - Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee - Mathew Barzal - Hudson Fasching
Pierre Engvall - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov - Robert Bortuzzo
Mike Reilly - Ryan Pulock
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
New Jersey Devils Projected Lines:
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Jesper Bratt
Jack Hughes - Erik Haula - Alexander Holtz
Ondrej Palat - Tomas Nosek - Dawson Mercer
Kurtis MacDermid - Chris Tierney - Curtis Lazar
Luke Hughes - Nick DeSimone
Kevin Bahl - Brendan Smith
Santeri Hatakka - Simon Nemec
Kaapo Kahkonen
Jake Allen
How To Watch:
Sunday's game will air on MSGSN; the Devils' feed will take the airwaves on MSG. On the radio, the Islanders-Devils matchup is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 98.7 FM ESPN and 103.9 LI News Radio.