Game Preview: Islanders at Devils

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (32-36-10) AT NEW JERSEY DEVILS (40-28-9)
7 P.M. PRUDENTIAL CENTER
TV: MSG+2, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM - WRHU, AM970 - The Answer, 103.9FM - LI News

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\Graphic courtesy of Islanders PR*

QUICK NOTES:

• The Islanders are playing the second of a back-to-back after a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last night
• Casey Cizikas and Josh Bailey will miss tonight's game
• John Tavares recorded his 80th point of the season last night against Toronto

LINEUP NOTES:

Thomas Greiss will start in goal for the Islanders, his first action since suffering an ankle injury on Feb. 16. Scott Mayfield draws in for Dennis Seidenberg, as the Islanders go back with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
Projected Lines:
Lee - Tavares - Fritz
Beauvillier - Barzal - Eberle
Ladd - Nelson - Johnstonn
Wagner - Clutterbuck

SEASON SERIES:

The Islanders are 1-2-0 against New Jersey this season, winning 5-4 in a shootout on Jan. 7, losing 4-1 on Jan. 16 and dropping a 2-1 contest on Feb. 24.

SPOILER ALERT:

The Islanders were eliminated from the playoffs earlier this week, but they can still make an impact on New Jersey's playoff hopes. The Devils (89 points) are hanging onto the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the Florida Panthers (86 points), who hold a game in hand. The Panthers will be cheering for the Islanders in Saturday's contest, hoping they can stall the Devils where they are as this race comes down to the last wee of the season.

BY THE NUMBERS:

24 - career points for John Tavares against New Jersey.Tavares has recorded 24 points (13G, 11A) in 36 games played against the Devils.
80 - points for John Tavares. Tavares scored his 34th goal of the season against the Maple Leafs to secure 80 points on the year.
39 - goals for Anders Lee.Lee is one goal away from 40 and has already set career highs in goals (39), assists (22) and points (61) this season.
15 - plus-minus rating for Thomas Hickey.The Calgary native leads all Islanders in plus-minus with a plus-15 rating.

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THE DEVILS:

Last Game:OTL 4-3 vs Pittsburgh
Leading Scorers:
Goals: Taylor Hall - 34
Assists:Taylor Hall - 52
Points:Taylor Hall - 86
With the regular season nearing its end, the New Jersey Devils hold the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 89 points. They lead the Florida Panthers who have 86 points, however the Panthers have a game in hand on New Jersey. The Devils are looking to qualify for the postseason for the first time since their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012.
Taylor Hall leads the Devils in scoring with 86 points (34G, 52A) and is riding a six-game point streak. Earlier this season, the Calgary native held a point streak that lasted 26 games. Hall also leads the team in game-winning-goals with six. Devils rookie Nico Hischier is next in points scored with 50 (18G, 32A) on the campaign.
Devils goaltender, and Long Island native, Keith Kinkaid is 22-10-0 this season with a 2.89 GAA and .910 SV%. Kinkaid has won three of his past four starts dating back to March 23 in a 4-3 overtime win in Pittsburgh. Cory Schneider is 17-15-0 between the pipes for New Jersey with a 2.88 GAA and a .909 SV%.
UPDATE: Kinkaid is the likely starter according to Amanda Stein of the Devils official site.
Projected Lines:
Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Grabner-Zacha-Maroon
Coleman-Zajac-Noesen
Wood-Boyle-Gibbons