The New Jersey Devils are in Brooklyn today to take on the New York Islanders in a batter between two of the NHL's hottest teams.
Despite some mediocre stretches of play (and injuries to boot) the Devils have recorded at least a point in seven of their last eight and in five straight.
The Islanders, on the other hand, have won seven of their last 10 and have points in nine of their last 10.
The Devils are catching a bit of a break in that they're getting the Islanders in the latter half of a back-to-back. In saying that the Devils are without a couple key players in Adam Henrique and Travis Zajac so extending their point streak will certainly still be a difficult task.
LINEUPS *questionable due to illness
Cammalleri - Josefson - Stempniak* Tlusty - Blandisi - Palmieri Elias - Kalinin - Kennedy O'Neill - Gionta - Tootoo
Greene - Larsson Moore - Severson Merrill - Schlemko/Gelinas
Schneider
--
**doubtful with injury
Nelson - Tavares - Okposo Lee - Nielsen - Bailey Kulemin - Grabovski - Strome** Martin - Cizikas - Boulton
Leddy - Hamonic de Haan - Boychuk Hickey - Strait
Halak
WHAT TO WATCH 1) Playing from behind can be very taxing; especially against a good shot suppression team like the Devils. If the Devils can get the lead in this one it'll make life very difficult on a (somewhat) fatigued Islanders team. The first goal is always important but even more so in this game.
2) Joseph Blandisi had three shots and a game-high three high-danger scoring chances in his NHL debut on Friday night. If he continues to play like that the points will come.
3) The Islanders are top-10 in goals for and top-10 in 5 v 5 events (shot attempts for + against per 60). They play a high-tempo game and usually get no shortage of scoring chances so Cory Schneider will need to be good once again tonight.
The game is at 5 eastern and can be seen on MSG and MSG+.
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