The Devils return home after a three-game road trip to play the second of three in a row against the New York Islanders.
You can watch the game on MSG or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
WATCH LIVE AT 6:15 PM ET
Watch the PlayUp Devils Pre-Game Show with host Chris Wescott for analysis, interviews and more!
WATCH LIVE AT 6:30 PM ET
Get set right before game time as Chris Wescott and Chico Resch talk lineups and storylines during the pre-game warmup!
PRE-GAME VIDEOS
Devils Minute with Amanda Stein
Pre-Game Media Availability with Head Coach Lindy Ruff
THE NUMBERS
Stats Comparison: NJD vs. NYI
Head-to-Head: NJD vs. NYI
Devils Player Stats
Islanders Player Stats
Media Game Notes
RECENT NEWS & BLOGS
BLOG: Devils Practice Ahead of Rematch with Islanders
FEATURE: Maltsev's Battle and Development Earns him Praise
RECENT VIDEOS
PRACTICE: Inside Scoring
Friday's Interviews:
Ruff
|
Bratt
|
Maltsev
TV & RADIO
You can watch the game on MSG
You can listen to tonight's game on the Devils Hockey Network.

INSIDE THE DEVILS

Check out the latest team coverage in our Inside the Devils Blog.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE DEVILS BLOG

PRE-GAME STORY

NEWARK, NJ - As the Devils continue their three-game series against the Islanders, head coach Lindy Ruff was asked about the quality of the opponent that New Jersey will face at
Prudential Center
tonight and tomorrow.
"They proved that last year in the playoffs. They're one of the top teams," Ruff stated. "They've got great structure. They're a group of players that have played well together. When they lose, they do by a small margin. When you're playing a Boston or a Washington, you can throw the Islanders in there, too."
On Thursday in Uniondale, the Devils learned that lesson the hard way, particularly in the opening 40 minutes where they fell behind 4-0.
"There was some of it that's systematic," said Ruff of the team being outplayedon Thursday. "Some of it, for me, is the other team's will was greater. I know the other team's trying to win the battle, too. But we've got to do a better job. I've talked since day one about outnumbering the opponent" to improve chances of winning the battle
"We do need a greater level of desperation. Our desperation has to show over the other team's desperation."
While the Islanders on paper have more experience than the Devils, Ruff stressed that his club can compete and win against their elite opponent but it will take two things: effort and smart play.
"We spent some time yesterday talking about that as a team. We talked about it again this morning. We talked about the strengths of our team. Where teams have been able to expose us," Ruff began. "It's the will to win more compete battles. The will to get to the front of the net on the Kuokkanen goal. But do it early, not late. Let's start the game and get there.
"Making sure we're in shot lanes. We can eliminate 5 to 10 more shots by just doing a good job being in lanes."
VETERAN INFLUENCE
Where the Devils are most veteran is on the blueline, particularly compared to up front where only three forwards are over 25 years old. On the back end, only Ty Smith is under 25.
Ruff made a point in his morning media avail to talk about wanting more out of that veteran group.
"When you look at any team's defense, particularly ours, it's where a lot of our veterans are," he noted. "Our first decision -- whether it's puck movement, making that little play to your partner -- we're not good at that. We spend too much time in our own end. It's the ability to read what's going on in the zone and close it down quickly.
"I need more consistent play out of our veteran defensemen."
JACK'S ATTACK
Ruff was also asked about the play of Jack Hughes, who scored a nice goal late in Thursday's contest.
"There's two parts for me. He's had that one opportunity per game to put it in the back of the net. Those ones were going in early," said Ruff, noting that lately he hasn't been able to finish his chances as often. "Last game, he had one opportunity, he finished it. It's trying to get that second or third opportunity."
The Devils bench boss also added that if Jack can get those two or three additional chances each game, not only will he find the puck going in but there will also been an uptick in his play defensively.
"When you struggle to put points on the board sometimes your defensive play gets away from you. There's games where he doesn't play well defensively. It's all connected for me.
"I want to see him able to create and able to finish when he does get his opportunities."

PREVIEW

DEVILS (8-12-3) vs ISLANDERS (17-6-4)
TV: MSG at 7 PM ET
Head-to-Head:
Tonight's game marks the fifth of eight games between New Jersey and the New York Islanders in the 2020-21 regular season series.
Ty Smith (0-3-3) leads the Devils in points vs the Islanders this season.

This season New Jersey is 1-1-0 at Prudential Center and 0-2-0 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Devils Team Scope:
After losing five straight games on their last homestand, the Devils recovered to go 1-1-1 on their recent three-game road trip.
They sit seventh in the East Division with 19 points, four points behind the Rangers with two games in hand. Devils have been strong on the road this season at 6-3-1 but have struggled at home with a league-worst 2-9-1.
Islanders Team Scope:
The Islanders are one of the hottest teams in the NHL. They have won seven straight games and are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games, though nine of those games have come at home where they are a league-best 12-0-2. On the road, they are only 5-6-2.
Their recent surge has put them to the top of the division with 38 points. They are two points ahead of Washington. They are tied for third in the NHL overall, two points behind Toronto.
Mathew Barzal leads the Islanders with 23 points.
By the Numbers:
This weekend will mark the fifth of seven back-to-back sets for the Devils this season. New Jersey is 0-4-0 in the first game, and 2-2-0 in the second game. Last season, the Devils were 2-6-4 in the first game of back-to-back contests.
Jack Hughes (19:44) and Ty Smith (18:53) have each played over 18:00 in at least eight of the 14 games so far this season. Hughes has played over 18:00 in a goal 11 times this season, while Smith has done it eight times. Hughes, 19 years old, ranks second in the NHL with most 18:00 plus games. Smith's eight, ranks third among players who are 20 years and younger.
Hughes's average time on ice so far this season of 19:44 leads all players in his draft class that have played this year. Hughes's is averaging more than a minute than the next player.
Injury Update:
Devils: Hischier (upper body) is on IR
Islanders: Lee (lower body) is day-to-day