Islanders at Devils
The New York Islanders had a pair of streaks come to an end Wednesday, losing for the first time to a Metropolitan Division foe this season and suffering their first loss in nine games to the crosstown rival New York Rangers. Losers of five of seven (2-4-1), the Islanders will try to avert a third straight defeat when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Friday afternoon.
New York blanked the visiting Devils 3-0 earlier this month before its current swoon, which has included lopsided losses to Dallas (6-2) and the Rangers (5-0) in the last two games. “Some guys who have played well, have slipped a little bit,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We’ve got to get back on the rails here.” The Devils have lost eight of 10 on the road, but they have been a different team at home with a 7-1-2 mark following Wednesday's 5-2 win over Montreal. “Any win is good right now, but it’s great to get those home wins, and as long as we get those home wins, we put ourselves in a good spot,” New Jersey goaltender Keith Kinkaid said.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, MSG, MSG Plus (New York, New Jersey)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (10-8-2): Trotz changed up his lines during Thursday's practice, moving Anthony Beauvillier back with the No. 1 unit alongside center Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey while Brock Nelson was reunited with captain Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle. "It's on us," said Beauvillier, who scored four times in the two games before Wednesday's drubbing. “We’ve just got to get back to basics, back to the grind mentality, the grit. It’s easy to fix. It’s not about Xs and Os. It’s about execution and commitment.” Thomas Greiss made 35 saves in posting a shutout of the Devils on Nov. 3.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (9-9-2): Pavel Zacha failed to hit the scoresheet in his first 12 games, sandwiched around a demotion to the minors, but he scored twice against Montreal to give him four goals in his last three contests. "I'm trying to focus on my game, on my skating and being hard to play against and just trying to win my puck battles and going to the net," Zacha said. "I had a lot of chances before, but now they're going in for me. The confidence is a little better now (than) before I went to the AHL." Nico Hischier score Wednesday in his return from a four-game injury absence.
OVERTIME
1. Islanders F Matt Martin, who has missed eight straight games in a row, is close to returning, Trotz said.
2. Devils F Kyle Palmieri is the eighth different player in franchise history with 12 goals in the first 20 games of a season.
3. Islanders F Cal Clutterbuck is expected to play Friday after illness forced him to sit out against the Rangers.