After a day off the New Jersey Devils are looking for revenge against the New York Islanders in the latter half of a home-and-home.
While the game will not be televised there are still some interesting storylines to follow from afar.
Before I get into that let's take a look at New Jersey's projected lineup:
Cammallieri - Zajac - Tlusty Boucher - Blandisi - Tootoo Stempniak - Kalinin - Quenneville Ruutu - Gionta - Pietila
Moore - Larsson Helgeson - Gragnani Scarlett - Mozik
Kinkaid Wedgewood
Game notes:
- Beyond John Moore and Adam Larsson all of the blue liners dressing tonight are long shots to make the team. The Devils seem to be cutting players every day or two now and that will continue as the regular season approaches. This could be the last kick at the can to try and impress for some of those in the bottom-4.
- Joseph Blandisi is a guy that needs to play well tonight. He wasn't bad in his preseason debut but he didn't really get to showcase himself as he played limited minutes alongside PL3 and Blake Pietila. He's getting a much better opportunity tonight and he'll need to make the most of it. I expect he'll see some PP time on top of top-6 minutes.
- John Quenneville played very well in the only preseason game he dressed in thus far but he remains a long shot to make the team. It's either Brandon (WHL) or New Jersey for him so if the Devils are going to keep him around - even for a nine-game tryout - they will have to be very confident he can at least hold his head above water at the NHL level. When all is said and done I think he'll go back to the WHL for another year but if he can string together a few good games things could get interesting.
- Lee Stempniak will dress tonight for the third time in four games. He's shown very well thus far and has certainly improved his chances of being signed. If he can string together a couple more solid games I think he'll get the contract he's after.
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