New York Islanders

Islanders Game 21 Preview at New Jersey Devils: Lines, Best Bets, How To Watch

Published

5 months ago

November 28, 2023

The New York Islanders visit the rival New Jersey Devils tonight at The Rock to begin a three-game road trip. Here’s what you need to know before puck drop.

Martin Activated Off IR; Holmstrom & Clutterbuck Healthy:

Matt Martin has been activated off the Islanders’ injured reserve list after missing the last five games with an upper-body injury.

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said Martin is available to play tonight against the Devils. So, too, are Cal Clutterbuck and Simon Holmstrom, who missed practice yesterday due to illness.

Lambert did not disclose the Islanders lineup pregame.

Reilly Lined Up To Debut:

Newly acquired defenseman Mike Reilly is in line to make his Islanders debut tonight.

The defenseman was claimed off waivers by the Islanders on Saturday and had his first practice with the team on Monday. Reilly may not been given much time to acclimate into the team’s system, but at this point, the Islanders are desperate for any help on defense they can get.

Make Or Break For Bolduc:

Samuel Bolduc has had several opportunities to firmly assert himself into the Islanders lineup before, but none is bigger than the one in front of him right now.

If he does get another chance tonight, he needs to make the most of it because the Islanders are waiting for Bolduc to prove his worth.

Projected Lineup:

Lineup based on Islanders practice lines on Monday

Barzal-Horvat-Holmstrom

Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri

Lee-Pageau-Wahlstrom

Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Romanov-Pulock

Dobson-Mayfield

Reilly-Bolduc

Sorokin

Varlamov

Last Time Out:

Exhausted on the second night of a back-to-back and in their third game and four nights, the Islanders went the distance with the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, losing in a shootout, 1-0.

Ilya Sorokin held on for as long as he possibly could, making 40 saves in regulation and overtime, but couldn’t get in the way of Tyson Foerester’s shot that finally broke the stalemate in the shootout’s fourth round.

In overtime and shootouts this season, the Islanders are 1-6. Even still, the Islanders’ extended their point streak to an even six games.

The Opponent:

The New Jersey Devils began the season as a perennial Stanley Cup favorite but come into tonight’s game looking up at eight teams in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

With Tyler Toffoli’s 11 goals leading the way, New Jersey’s potent offense is still very much a threat. But while the goaltending tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid has not been up to par, the same can be said for the Devils. Despite posting the league’s seventh-best scoring offense and ninth-best power play, New Jersey has a goal differential of -3.

As a result, the Devils are owners of a .500 record, having lost seven of their last 10. However, New Jersey is coming off a monstrous 7-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in Nico Hischier’s return to the lineup.

Even with their captain back healthy, the Devils are still shorthanded as they welcome the Islanders, with Timo Meier, Eric Haula and Tomas Nosek all expected to be out of the lineup tonight.

The Devils scored on four out of five power play opportunities to beat the Islanders in overtime, 5-4, back on Oct. 26. Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal that night at UBS Arena.

Best Bets:

The Devils are once again one of the highest-scoring teams in the NHL this season. Meanwhile, the Islanders have scored three or more goals in all but one of their last five games.

The red lights flashed nine times the last time these two played each other. Tonight’s game could very well have a similar result. Bet the over by using odds presented by Draft Kings.

How To Watch:

Puck drop between the Islanders and Devils from Prudential Center is scheduled for just past 7:00 p.m. EST. The game can be seen on MSGN2 and streamed on MSG + and ESPN + for out-of-market viewers. 88.7 FM WRHU will produce the radio feed of the game, which can also be heard on 1050 AM ESPN and 103.9 FM WRCN.