Game Preview: Islanders at Devils

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (16-11-0) AT NEW JERSEY DEVILS (21-4-1)
7 PM | PRUDENTIAL CENTER
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The New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils face off in a Metropolitan Division tilt on Friday night at Prudential Center.
After a strong start, the Islanders have sputtered a bit in their last three games, outshooting their opponent in each one, but going 1-2 on their last homestand, including a 7-4 loss Tuesday to the St. Louis Blues. The Islanders will be looking to maintain their recent shot volume advantage against the Devils, after getting outshot 43-17 in the first matchup between the teams on Oct. 20.

The Devils won the first meeting on Oct. 20 at UBS Arena 4-1, using their speed to dominate possession time. Since then, the Devils have jumped to the top of the Metropolitan division, tied for the NHL lead with 21 wins in 26 games.
"We certainly know they have speed," Head Coach Lane Lambert said of the Devils. "We know they're competent. We've all watched them, they've played very well. We have to make sure that we maintain our gaps, stay above them and play our game."
The Devils enter the game as the Metropolitan Division leaders, nine points clear of the second place Carolina Hurricanes. New Jersey is 5-0-1 in its last six games, most recently shutting out the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 on Tuesday. The Devils are 18-1-1 in their past 20 contests.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Adam Pelech left Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Blues early with an upper-body injury after being hit into the boards by Robert Bortuzzo. He did not practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day per Lambert. If Pelech can't go, Robin Salo is expected to draw into his place. Salo hasn't played since Oct. 20, though he has played four games over that span with a pair of assists.
  - Cal Clutterbuck, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, was a full participant in practice Thursday and is a game-time decision for Friday. Clutterbuck has missed the Islanders past three games.
  - Kyle Palmieri is still considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury and did not practice on Thursday.
  - The Islanders scored two goals in under a minute for the fifth time this season and the second time in the past two games on Tuesday against the Blues.
  - Hudson Fasching scored his first goal as an Islander on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, a deflection of a Matt Martin shot. The goal was the second of Fasching's NHL career and his first since the 2015-2016 season.
  ISLES VS DEVILS
  ISLANDERS ARTICLES
  Isles DTD: Pelech Misses Practice
  Islanders Puppy Calendar Photo Shoot
  Islanders Holiday Hospital Visits
  Talkin' Isles: Leo Komarov
  ISLANDERS VIDEO
  Clark Gillies Arena Dedication
  Clark Gillies Plaque
  Denis Potvin's Plaque
  GAME EXTRAS
  Reverse Retro Jersey
  Talkin' Isles
  Isles Season Tickets
  - Brock Nelson is on a six-game point streak. Nelson has three goals and three assists in that span and 26 points (12G, 14A) in 27 games this year.
  - The Islanders had 40 shots on goal in three consecutive games, matching the franchise record set in 2015.
  - Zach Parise scored his 417th career goal, good for 9th among actives. He passed Tony Amonte for 10th among American-born players and tied Jason Arnott for 90th all-time.

DEVILS NOTES:

• Jack Hughes is on a six-game point streak and leads the Devils in scoring with 31 points (13G, 18A) in 26 games. Hughes has 10 points (6G, 4A) in that six-game streak.
  - The Devils have scored an NHL-best 40 goals in the second period, and a league-best plus-19 goal differential in the frame.
  - The Devils will be wearing their Reverse Retro jersey for the first time at the Prudential Center this season.
  - Nico Hischier has 27 points (11G, 16A) in 26 games this season. The Devils are 18-0-1 when Hischier records a point. Hischier had three points (1G, 2A) in the Devils' last meeting with the Islanders on Oct. 20.
  - Dougie Hamilton tied a career-high with a three-point game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 6. Hamilton has 19 points (7G, 12A) in 26 games, and his seven goals are tied for fifth most in the NHL from defensemen.
  - Vitek Vanacek is tied for fourth in the NHL with 12 wins this season. Vanacek is 12-2-1 in his first season with New Jersey, with a 2.10 GAA, a .922 SV% and two shutouts.