Islanders at Devils preview

ISLANDERS (10-8-2) AT DEVILS (9-9-2)
4 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG+, NHL.TV

The New Jersey center scored two goals for the second time in his NHL career in a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday and has four goals in his past three games. The Devils are 3-1-1 in their past five games.
The Islanders lost 5-0 to the New York Rangers on Wednesday, their first loss to a Metropolitan Division team this season (7-1-0). The Islanders, who defeated the Devils 3-0 at Barclays Center on Nov. 3, try to avoid their third straight loss and have been outscored 11-2 in their past two games.

Players to watch

Islanders center Mathew Barzal has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past six games.
Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid is 3-0-1 with a 1.72 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in his past four starts.

They said it

"Our starts in the past few games have been awful. We have to figure out a way to get ready to go against [New] Jersey. The first 20 minutes have to be good. Against the Rangers, down 3-0 in basically the first 10 minutes of the game, you really put yourself against the wall ." -- Islanders forward Anders Lee
"He's new to the NHL but has a lot of experience as a professional in Russia in the KHL. He's got poise, he's fearless, and one of those guys who can make plays under pressure. I think, systemically, he's learning better and better what he can do." -- Devils coach John Hynes on defenseman Egor Yakovlev

Islanders projected lineup

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

Devils projected lineup

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

Status report

Clutterbuck, who missed the game against the Rangers with an illness, is questionable. ... Boyle (lower body) and Vatanen (upper body) were activated from injured reserve. Anderson was placed on IR after being injured in the first period against the Canadiens.

Stat pack

Beauvillier has five points (four goals, one assists) in his past three games. ... Severson has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past six games.