NEW JERSEY DEVILS (2-0-1) at NY ISLANDERS

New Jersey finishes its preseason with a visit to Long Island to face the Islanders. Puck drop is 7:38 p.m. ET.

Read below for your game preview presented by Eleven Media and check back for the pre-game story.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ - The Devils held their morning skate at the Prudential Center before taking a bus to Long Island to face the Islanders in the preseason finale.

The Devils will play their final preseason game against the New York Islanders. And they’ll be using essentially their regular-season opening roster. So this will be a first opportunity for this whole group to get some game action and reps in before the real thing starts.

“It’s our first dress rehearsal you could say,” center Cody Glass said. “We want to communicate, have some fun out there. The real thing starts soon. Us coming together and being a team again is always fun to do.”

“First time playing together with most of us,” defenseman Brett Pesce said. “Just looking to get chemistry off the hop. This game is important to get the systems ready, feed off of guys. Guys haven’t played together, just practice. Getting an extra game and more reps is important to hit the ground running.”

It’s not just a chance for the players to work out some kinks in their game and systems, but also for the coaching staff – featuring three new members on the bench – to get a flow of its own.

“New coaching staff on our bench as well with a couple new guys,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “A chance to have the group together. Them finding their rhythm but me as a coach to find the rhythm of the ice time, the way the game flows. It’s all good. The guys have done a nice job of putting in the work to get to this point. Obviously, our final preseason game before we turn the page and get to work for real, recognizing that you’re in preparation mode.”

Start Building

While the final preseason game won’t count in the standings, it still holds its importance. Particularly for a group that is still learning and working together.

“We all like the systems, we all are bought in,” Pesce said. “It’ll take some time and more reps to get it down pact. Another good reason to play this game and get the cobwebs out.”

“You’re building your individual game but ultimately, you’re looking for cohesion with how you play,” Keefe said. “You’re building your game and building your identity with how you want to look and play as a group. The team on the other side is going to be doing pretty much the same thing. It should be a competitive game.”

Final Decisions

After tonight’s game, the regular season will officially start. NHL rosters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Monday, meaning a lot of decisions will be made on Sunday.

“We’ll get through this, have a good day off tomorrow that everybody needs,” Keefe said, “and then get a sense of what the final roster looks like in terms of how many forwards, how many defense, how many goalies are going to be around here and we’ll move ahead from there and get at it.”

THE SCOOP

It's the dress rehersal for the regular season when the Devils visit the Islanders for the fourth and final preseason game this year. The expectation is that both the Devils and Islanders will be icing a full NHL roster on each side to amp up the competition in the final game before they start playing for real.

All but one of the Devils rosters spots are locked in, with a fourth line wing position up for grabs. Against the Islanders it will be Amadeus Lombardi skating with Cody Glass and Connor Brown. It will be Lombardi's third preseason game, yet another opportunity to make a push for the NHL roster. Jesper Boqvist and Stefan Noesen suited up against the Rangers on Thursday night and maxed out their two preseason game limit as veterans. 

On Friday, the Devils made their first batch of cuts to the roster, where forward Lenni Hämeenaho and defenseman Anton Silaev were both assigned to the American Hockey League. You can check out the full round of cuts here.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Devils: Amadeus Lombardi is looking to secure himself a spot in the Devils lineup. On Thursday he played in his natural position as a centerman with Boqvist and Noesen on his wings. He'll try and take advantage of being versatile, something that has been asked of him by the coaching staff, playing alongside Glass and Brown on the Devils fourth line. 

INJURIES

Devils:
Kovacevic (lower-body)
Bjugstad (torn pec)
Casey (unknown)

Islanders:
Barzal (undisclosed)

PRESEASON RESULTS

• Sept. 25 vs. NY Islanders, W 2-1

GAME NOTES

• Both teams are expected to ice their full NHL rosters in preparation for their respective season openers
• Jake Allen will play the full 60 minutes for New Jersey
• The two clubs will meet again next week for the Islanders home opener on Saturday, Oct. 3.