Game Preview: Islanders vs Devils

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (23-18-4) VS NEW JERSEY DEVILS (22-12-8)
7 P.M. BARCLAYS CENTER - BUY TICKETS
TV: MSG+, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM, AM570, 103.9FM
Despite being outshot 56-24 on Monday night, the New York Islanders found a way to win in Montreal, extending their winning streak to three games.
The three-game run has vaulted the Islanders back into the Eastern Conference wild card, but it's a tenuous grasp. The Islanders (50 points) hold the last playoff spot, but the Rangers (49 points, one game in hand), Flyers (48 points, two games in hand) and Hurricanes (48 points, even games played) lurk close behind, giving every game extra meaning.

The Devils (52 points) are finally within the Islanders reach, though New Jersey has played three fewer games. so even if the Isles win the four-point game, the Devils hold the tiebreaker.
The matchup with the Devils has been a friendly one for the Islanders of late. The Islanders have won eight straight home games against the Devils and are 13-1-1 in their last 15 vs New Jersey.

LINEUP NOTES:

UPDATE: HALAK IN GOAL. EVERYONE WHO WAS IN MONTREAL WILL TAKE WARMUPS.
Jaroslav Halak will likely start in net as the Islanders finish a back-to-back set. Doug Weight will announce his lineup at 4:45 p.m.
Scott Mayfield left Monday's game after taking a puck to the face in the second period and did not return for the third. Weight said he didn't think the injury was serious, but the last thing the Islanders need right now is another injury. If Mayfield can't go, Dennis Seidenberg will replace him in the lineup.

SEASON SERIES:

The Islanders came back for a 5-4 shootout win over the Devils on Jan. 7. Sebastian Aho scored his first-NHL goal in the Islanders comeback, while Brock Nelson capped it with the game-decider in the shootout. Jaroslav Halak made 42 saves.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Over the past three games the Islanders second line has been tearing it up, combining for 22 points (7G, 15A). Here's the breakdown:
10 - points for Mathew Barzal (3G, 7A). Barzal leads all rookies with 47 points this season.
5 - points for Anthony Beauvillier (4G, 1A).
7 - assists for Jordan Eberle.

THE DEVILS:

Last Game: L 5-3 vs Philadelphia
Leading Scorers:Goals: Taylor Hall - 15
Assists: Taylor Hall - 29
Points:Taylor Hall - 44
While the Islanders are streaking one way, the Devils are trending in the other direction. New Jersey is winless in its last six games, going 0-3-3, including a shootout loss to the Islanders on Jan. 7.
Still, the Devils remain a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division with 52 points and have played the fewest games of any team in the Metro.
Despite the team's recent struggles, Taylor Hall continues to thrive, with eight points (3G, 5A) on a four-game point streak. Hall leads the team in goals, assists and points and is on pace for his first point-per-game season since 2013-14, when he scored 80 points in 75 games.
Keith Kinkaid will start for the Devils as Cory Schneider is out with an illness. Stefan Noesen is in, while Blake Coleman is out.