Islanders Defeat Devils in Rookie Opener | GAME STORY

NEWARK, NJ - The Devils were just 1:21 away from coming away with a regulation win over the Islanders, banking on a two-goal third period effort by Matyas Matyas, leading 4-3 in the dying moments of the game. 

With their goalie pulled, the Islanders capitalized on a 6-on-5, Cole Eiserman tying the game at 4-4 and sending the game to overtime. 

It was Eiserman's first of the game, his second coming with a minute to play in overtime, giving the Islanders a 5-4 win in overtime.

On four separate occasions, the Devils and Islanders rookies found themselves in a tie game, before Melvosky's second goal of the game broke the third deadlock and nearly earned New Jersey the victory. 

The Devils had two goals, 41 seconds apart, in the second period with goals from Mikael Diotte and Luke Wilfley, and the Islanders Daniil Prokhorov had a two goal outing. Islanders first-rounder, Victor Eklund, broke the tie 2-2 tie in the third period.

Diotte ended the afternoon matchup with a goal and an assist, setting up Wilfley's snap shot from the left circle. 

The matchup was the first of two between the Metro Division rookie teams ahead of main training camp opening. 

The two clubs will meet again, this time on Long Island, on Tuesday evening.

Here are some observations from the game:

• Anton Silaev was most definitely a stand out, not just for his hulking size at 6-foot-7 and towering over even the refs, but his skating ability was on display, smooth and with ease, the defenseman made his way up and down the ice, jumping up in the play at the right times and registering two shots on net in the first. 

And lets not forget using his size. Silaev provided the biggest moment of the first period, laying out a hit on Islanders Tomas Poletin, that shook the foundation of the building.

“I dont think he needed me to step in there for the scrum… or maybe he did, he’s a little on the smaller side,” joked Silaev's defensive partner, Seamus Casey.

Poletin shared his thoughts post-game as well, on taking the enormous Silaev hit.

“I kind of saw him. I let the puck go through but you can't really do much there. I just tried to get as strong as possible. I expected it so it wasn’t that bad. He’s a big guy for sure. There’s not a lot you can do. I’m all good.”

• On playing with Silaev, Casey said: "Super easy to play with, I think he can get up and down the sheet in, I think, three strides. That makes it super easy for me as his partner, he's always there, and his physical presence was felt, so obviously, that opens things up on the ice."

• Casey suited up for his first competitive game since late-January. The defenseman was injured during his season in Utica and spent the last seven months. 

"It was great, a ton of fun,"he said. "It was a lot of fun, some cobwebs, obviously, being off for the game that long, just habits and stuff that its hard in the summer it’s hard to mimic everything no matter how hard you try. Just tried to keep good habits, play the way I want to be playing in February and March and down the line in the playoffs. Feels like a good start.”

• Matyas Melovsky, Lenni Hämeenaho and Seamus Casey all wore the 'A's on their jersey.

• Melovsky was a standout player for the Utica Comets last season, and on Sunday, in the first of two rookie games this year, Melovsky picked up where he left off.

Melovsky scored two goals in 1:29 midway through the third period to both tie the game against the Islanders at 3-3 and then take the 4-3 lead. 

“He’s a really smart hockey player, the puck doesn’t slow him down, he does a great job of supporting it in the middle,” Utica head coach Ryan Parent said. “He can transport (the puck) really well. But I think what I saw tonight was kind of where he was trending last year, getting a lot stronger and confident with the puck. There were some plays where he has three guys around him and he can still keep it on his stick.”

• The Devils have just a single first-round pick on its rookie camp roster, in Silaev. He was drafted 10th overall in 2024. The roster also has two second-round picks, both with NHL experience, in Casey and Hämeenaho, as well as four fourth-round picks, three sixth rounders, one seventh and three free agent invites. 

For the Islanders, they boasted three first-round picks, including two of their 2025 first rounders in Victor Eklund (16th overall) and Kashawn Aitcheson (17th overall). The Islanders have two second-round picks, two third and fourth round picks, a fifth and seventh round pick as well as several undrafted players as the makeup of their 25-man roster. 

• The Islanders swapped out their goalies mid-way through the game, with Burke Hood taking over from  Joshua Kotai with just under 10 minutes to play in the second period. Kotai did not give up a goal to New Jersey. For the Devils, Málek played the full 60 minutes.

• Diotte, Melovsky and Prokhorov all had two points. Diotte had a goal and an assist, while Prokhorov had two goals. Diotte also dropped the gloves Kaydon McCann midway through the third period.

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