Devils at Islanders preview

DEVILS (5-4-1) at ISLANDERS (7-4-1)
7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG+, NHL.TV

The Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout on Thursday to improve to 5-0-0 in the Metropolitan Division. It is the second time in team history they have started 5-0-0 in their division (1982-83, Patrick Division).
The Devils are 1-4-1 in their past six games after starting the season 4-0-0. Forward Brett Seney, 22, will make his NHL debut as the center on a line with Blake Coleman and
Drew Stafford
.

Players to watch

Devils forward Taylor Hall has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in a nine-game point streak.
Islanders forward Josh Bailey has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in a seven-game point streak.

They said it

"When you're losing you need to change a few things, but I don't think drastic changes need to happen. We've got to be a little more excited to get in on the forecheck, to break out of our zone and take pride in getting the puck and breaking it out, going on the forecheck to strip a puck. We have to want to make a difference in the game." -- Devils defenseman Damon Severson
"I think you're seeing us buying in and we're starting to believe. You want to be on an upwards path throughout the course of the season and, so far, it's been good. You know there's going to be ups and downs, but you want to stay even keel and ride these streaks as long as you can." -- Islanders forward Josh Bailey

Devils projected lineup

Taylor Hall -- Nico Hischier -- Kyle Palmieri
Marcus Johansson -- Travis Zajac -- Miles Wood
Blake Coleman -- Brett Seney -- Drew Stafford
Brian Boyle -- Jean-Sebastien Dea --
Kurtis Gabriel
Mirco Mueller
-- Sami Vatanen
Andy Greene -- Damon Severson
Will Butcher -- Ben Lovejoy
Keith Kinkaid
Cory Schneider
Scratched: Egor Yakovlev, Joey Anderson
Injured:Stefan Noesen (upper body), Jesper Bratt (jaw), Steven Santini (jaw)

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- Brock Nelson -- Josh Bailey
Anthony Beauvillier -- Mathew Barzal -- Jordan Eberle
Andrew Ladd -- Valtteri Filppula -- Leo Komarov
Ross Johnston -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy -- Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech -- Johnny Boychuk
Thomas Hickey -- Scott Mayfield
Thomas Greiss
Robin Lehner
Scratched: Luca Sbisa
Injured: Matt Martin (upper body)

Status report

Forwards Pavel Zacha and Kevin Rooney were assigned to Binghamton of the American Hockey League on Friday; Seney and Gabriel were recalled. ... Stafford returns to the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury. ... Lehner returns to the lineup and will serve as backup after missing one game with a back strain. ... Martin is day-to-day … The Islanders sent Christopher Gibson to Bridgeport of the AHL.

Stat pack

Palmieri and Hischier each have two goals and four assists in their past four games. ... Lee has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past six games. ... Boychuk will play his 600th NHL game.