Match-up - New York Islanders (26-13-1) @ New Jersey Devils (15-21-7) Road/Home records - 12-9-1 -------------- 7-7-5 TV - MSG, MSG+ Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - 2-0 Islanders Last 10 - Isles: 6-3-1 ------- Devils: 4-5-1 Projected starting goalies - Jaroslav Halak vs Keith Kinkaid
Projected lines for the Islanders via DailyFaceoff.com:
Michael Grabner - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo Mikhail Grabovski - Brock Nelson - Nikolay Kulemin Anders Lee - Frans Nielsen - Ryan Strome Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Calvin de Haan - Travis Hamonic Nick Leddy - Johnny Boychuk Thomas Hickey - Matt Donovan
Injured: Lubomir Visnovsky.
Projected lines for the Devils:
Adam Henrique - Scott Gomez - Jaromir Jagr Patrik Elias - Travis Zajac - Mike Cammalleri Martin Havlat - Dainius Zubrus - Michael Ryder Tuomo Ruutu - Tim Sestito - Jordin Tootoo
Andy Greene - Adam Larsson Mark Fraser - Marek Zidlicky Seth Helgeson - Jon Merill
Injured/ill: Ryane Clowe, Stephen Gionta, Damon Severson, Eric Gelinas, Bryce Salvador.
What to watch:
1) Being the 2nd game of a back-to-back and against one of the top teams in hockey, the Devils decided to give Keith Kinkaid the start. His four starts prior to tonight have been against Chicago, Montreal, Tampa Bay as well as the Islanders, and he's allowed two goals or less in three of the four. He has a .928SV% in seven appearances on the year, and will need to be on his game once again or this won't be close.
2) The Devils are pretty bad in possession and are playing an elite team in the midst of a back-to-back. If Kinkaid is good they may keep it close on the scoreboard but I'm expecting the Islanders to take it to the Devils tonight.
3) This season has quickly become all about Adam Larsson. He's posted excellent possession numbers in consecutive nights ,and was a plus-7 in shot attempts last night in a game where only his defense partner Andy Greene was a positive among players who took a regular shift. He's played 22 minutes or more in four consecutive games, and ls really starting to show why the Devils selected him 4th overall. He has another tough task tonight against John Tavares and co.
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