Game Preview: Islanders at Devils

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (29-26-7) AT NEW JERSEY DEVILS (31-22-8)
8 P.M. PRUDENTIAL CENTER
TV: MSG+2, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM - WRHU, AM 570 WMCA, 103.9 FM LI News Radio
MORNING SKATE UPDATES
The New York Islanders (65 points) picked up an important point on Thursday, but felt they left one on the table in a shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As frustrating as it was to leave one behind, there were some positives to take out of the game. The Islanders got a terrific effort out of their second line, with Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier and Jordan Eberle combining for six points (2G, 4A), never trailed in regulation and felt they controlled long stretches of play.

A bad bounce off Nick Leddy's leg sent the game to overtime and even then, the Isles had opportunities to win in what was a wild and wide open overtime.
After practicing in Toronto on Friday, the focus shifts to New Jersey for another crack at two points. The Islanders will be looking to snap a two-game winless streak (0-1-1) when they go to Newark, visiting their division rivals on Patrik Elias night, as the Devils raise No. 26 to the rafters. (Coverage of the ceremony begins at 6:15 p.m.)
The Islanders enter the game tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Blue Jackets have played one fewer game and hold the tiebreaker. The Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, while Carolina (64 points) are in Detroit.

LINEUP NOTES:

UPDATE: Jaroslav Halak will start in goal. Same lineup from Thursday.
Alan Quine was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury on Friday.
Josh Bailey signed a six-year contract extension on Friday to remain with the Islanders through the 2023-24 season.

SEASON SERIES:

The Islanders and Devils are meeting for the third time this season after splitting their previous two meetings in Brooklyn. The Islanders beat the Devils 5-4 in a shootout on Jan. 7, while the Devils won the rematch 4-1 on Jan. 16.

BY THE NUMBERS:

65 - Points for Mathew Barzal. The Islanders rookie leads the team in assists (48) and points and paces all freshmen in the NHL.
8-1-1 - The Islanders record in their last 10 trips to New Jersey.

THE DEVILS:

Last Game: L 4-2 vs Minnesota
Leading Scorers: Goals:Taylor Hall - 26
Assist:Taylor Hall - 38
Points: Taylor Hall - 64
Last season, 70 points were all the New Jersey Devils could muster en route to a last-place finish in the Metro Division. Sixty-one games into this season, the Devils are already at 70 points and are holding onto the first wild card in the Eastern Conference.
With a quarter of the season left to play, the Devils are looking to finish their turnaround campaign by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12.
To do so, New Jersey brought in reinforcements, acquiring Michael Grabner from the New York Rangers on Thursday, the first-ever trade between the Hudson River rivals.
Grabner had 25 goals with the Rangers this season and adds some offensive punch as well as his trademark speed. The former Islander becomes the 11th player to play for the Isles, Rangers and Devils, a.k.a. the Tri-State trifecta.
The other big story out of the Garden State is Taylor Hall's point streak, as the Devils forward is riding an NHL-best 13 game point streak. Hall has 28 points (14G, 14A) in the last 20 games he appeared in, missing three games with a thumb injury during that span.
Hall leads the Devils in goals, assists and points and he sits 24 points ahead of rookie Nico Hischier (40 points) for second on the Devils scoring lead.

GAMEDAY PREVIEW:

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