Game Preview: Islanders Host Sabres For Season Opener

With eight games to go, the New York Islanders (37-28-9) welcome the New Jersey Devils (46-19-8) to town on Monday night. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena. 

The Islanders currently hold a one-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the top wild-card spot. 

READ MORE: Islanders Enter Critical Week With Slim Lead

The New York Islanders were on the ice Monday morning, with everyone in attendance except Mathew Barzal and Oliver Wahlstrom.

Ilya Sorokin was in the starter's crease as he will make his 55th appearance of the season. He allowed three goals on 42 shots against the Devils back on Oct. 20 in a 4-1 loss, the Islanders' second game of the season. 

Sebastian Aho rejoined the group for the first time since he sustained an upper-body injury on March 18 against the San Jose Sharks.

Mathew Barzal is not skating and will not travel to D.C. 

Bo Horvat has no goals in his last 11 games, and Islanders head coach Lane Lambert made some changes to his line to get him going, as he will skate with Zach Parise and Hudson Fasching.

"We're just looking for a spark and a combination," Lambert said. "Those two guys have been having some success, and we'll see what happens."

After being inserted into the lineup Saturday after serving as a healthy scratch the three games prior, Josh Bailey was back as an extra.

Simon Holmstrom gets back in. 

"I thought he was playing okay," Lambert said. "For me, it's just a matter of continuing to play hard and move his feet and have the confidence that he does have that ability,"

Zach Parise-Bo Horvat-Hudson Fasching
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin 
Semyon Varlamov

Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat-Jack Hughes-Dawson Merceer
Yegor Sharangovich-Erik Haula-Tomas Tatar
Miles Wood-Michael McLeod-Nolan Foote

Jonas Siegenthaler-Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves-John Marino
Kevin Bahl/Ty Smith-Damon Severson

Vitek Vanecek 
Mackenzie Blackwood

@Amanda Stein

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the New Jersey Devils? You can get the Islanders at +105 & -235 on the reverse puck line. The Devils come in at -126 & +190 on the puck line.

The over for the contest is 5.5 at -140, with the under also at +114.

Lines courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook

Monday's contest will be available on MSGSN. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU, and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.