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NHL Gameday Preview: New York Islanders @ New Jersey Devils - Game 2

October 4, 2013, 1:36 PM ET [99 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
You can follow Todd on Twitter @ToddCordell!

Match-up - New York Islanders (0-0-0) New Jersey Devils (0-1-0)
Road/Home records - 0-0-0 -------------- 0-0-0
TV - MSG Plus, MSG
Puck drop - 7:00 PM ET
Season series - 0-0
Last 10: Islanders 0-0-0 / Devils 0-1-0
Projected starting goalies - Evgeni Nabokov (NYI) vs. Martin Brodeur (NJD)

Goals for/against per game

New York - 0/0
New Jersey - 0/3

Power play/Penalty Kill percentage

New York - 0/0
New Jersey - 0/100

Here are the projected lines (subject to change) for the Islanders:

Matt Moulson - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo
Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - Josh Bailey
Casey Cizikas - Peter Regin- Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Matt Martin - Brock Nelson - Colin McDonald

Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey - Lubomir Visnovsky
Brian Strait - Matt Donovan

Notable injuries: Cal Clutterbuck

Here are the projected lines (subject to change) for the Devils:

Ryane Clowe - Patrik Elias - Damien Brunner
Adam Henrique - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr
Dainius Zubrus - Andrei Loktionov - Michael Ryder
Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier

Bryce Salvador - Marek Zidlicky
Andy Greene - Adam Larsson
Anton Volchenkov - Peter Harrold

Game notes: Brodeur will make his first start of the season...Carter will play in his 300th career game tonight...This will be Harrold's 200th career game...Zubrus will play his 400th game with the Devils.

Some thoughts:

- Rusty Olesz, Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby and Mark Fayne were the only Devils skaters to hit the ice this morning. I assume that's a pretty good indication they'll all sit again tonight. Considering the Devils lost and are in a back-to-back situation I figured Pete DeBoer might insert some fresh legs but that doesn't appear to be the case.

- Devils look to be dressing the exact same lineup as they did against Pittsburgh. DeBoer hasn't spoke with the media about line combinations yet so what you see above may not be what you see tonight.

- The Devils were hammered in the faceoff circle last night winning just 22 of 55 faceoffs (40%). A better effort in the dot tonight would certainly be beneficial.

- New Jersey gave up way too many odd man rushes last night and misplayed a couple of them which led to goals. Peter Harrold in particular was torched in those situations. He needs to be better.

- John Tavares has lit up the Devils the last few times out. The Devils will need to watch him like a hawk tonight and use the last change to their advantage. If Harrold and Volchenkov are left out against the Tavares line things could get ugly in a hurry.

- Brock Nelson is making his NHL debut for the Islanders tonight and is certainly a player to watch. He had a very good collegiate career before turning pro last year when he recorded 52 points in 66 AHL games. Young players, especially rookies, seem to have success against the Devils when Brodeur's between the pipes and that may just be the case tonight.

**

Eastern Conference playoff predictions.

Western Conference playoff predictions.

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