Tonight the New Jersey Devils will square off against the New York Islanders for the second time in as many games.
In the first leg of a home-and home (at least from New Jersey's perspective) the Devils managed to slip by the John Tavares-less Isles in a game that was about as fun as a root canal.
The Devils recored just 17 shots on goal in 65 minutes and needed a shootout to settle things but when all was said and done they left the ice having banked two points.
They'll be looking to do the same again tonight - hopefully in more entertaining fashion - and will once again catch a big break as Tavares is expected to sit out due to illness.
LINEUPS Cammalleri - Henrique - Stempniak Tlusty - Zajac - Palmieri Kalinin - Josefson - Tootoo Farnham - Gionta - O'Neill
Greene - Larsson Merrill - Severson Moore - Schlemko
Schneider
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Lee - Nielsen - Okposo Bailey - Nelson - Strome Kulemin - Grabovski - Bernier Martin - Cizikas - Clutterbuck
Leddy - Boychuk de Haan - Hamonic Strait - Zidlicky
Halak
WHAT TO WATCH 1) Full-strength play. The Islanders are ranked 23rd in possession, they have a negative-3 goal differential at 5 vs 5 and are without their best player. The Devils need to take advantage of that.
2) Frans Nielsen vs Travis Zajac. The former enters this game with six points in his last five games and the latter will probably see a steady dose of him with Tavares out of the lineup.
3) Quick outlets. The Islanders are an extremely fast team and can get in on the forecheck and close gaps in a hurry. The best way to defuse their speed is to make quick passes. The puck moves faster than they do.
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