The New Jersey Devils will conclude the first month of the regular season today at Prudential Center in a Halloween matinee game against the New York Islanders at 1:00 PM. Ex-Devils Marek Zidlicky and Steve Bernier will make their returns to the Rock today after signing with the Islanders on one-year contracts.
The Devils will look to improve their disappointing 1-3-1 record at home this afternoon against a talented New York Islanders squad.
Today’s matchup is the first of four against the New York Islanders during the 2015-16 regular season, with the next taking place on November 3rd at Barclays Center.
Tuesday’s matchup will be the second half of this home-and-home series between these two teams.
Who to watch:
New York:
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015| CREDIT: BRUCE BENNETT
Steve Bernier #16 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on September 25, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Islanders 4-2.
Steve Bernier – The former New Jersey Devils forward, who tallied a surprising 32 points (16G-16A in 67GP) in 2014-15 with New Jersey, will make his regular season return to Prudential Center in an Islanders uniform this afternoon. He is slated to play in his third regular season game as an Islander, filling in for ill Islanders forward Ryan Strome on a line with Mikhail Grabovski and Brock Nelson.
New Jersey:
JANUARY 09, 2015| CREDIT: ANDY MARLIN
Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils controls the puck while being pursued by Johnny Boychuk #55 of the New York Islanders during the game at the Prudential Center on January 9, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey.
Travis Zajac – New Jersey’s veteran center has been proving doubters wrong as of late. In his last five games played, Zajac has recorded four goals and five assists. He netted two goals in New Jersey’s 4-1 victory in Philadelphia on Thursday night.
Projected Islanders Lineup (per dailyfaceoff.com, subject to change):
Forwards:
Josh Bailey-John Tavares-Anders Lee
Nikolay Kulemin-Frans Nielsen-Kyle Okposo
Brock Nelson-Mikhail Grabovski-Steve Bernier
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Defensemen:
Nick Leddy-Johnny Boychuk
Calvin de Haan-Travis Hamonic
Brian Strait-Marek Zidlicky
Goaltenders:
Jaroslav Halak
Thomas Greiss
J.S. Berube
Injuries: Eric Boulton (lower body, injured reserve), Thomas Hickey (lower body, out 4-6 weeks), Jaroslav Halak (illness, day-to-day, practiced on Friday – questionable for Saturday’s game), Ryan Strome (illness, day-to-day, did not practice on Friday)
Projected Devils Lineup (per dailyfaceoff.com, subject to change):
Forwards:
Mike Cammalleri-Adam Henrique-Lee Stempniak
Jiri Tlusty-Travis Zajac-Kyle Palmieri
Sergey Kalinin-Jacob Josefson-Jordin Tootoo
Stefan Matteau-Stephen Gionta-Brian O’Neill
Defensemen:
Andy Greene-Adam Larsson
John Moore-Damon Severson
Eric Gelinas-David Schlemko
Goaltenders:
Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid
Injuries: Ryane Clowe (long term, concussion), Patrik Elias (day-to-day, lower body)
Projected Goaltending Matchup:
New York:
Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Islanders defends his net against the New Jersey Devils during the game at the Prudential Center on March 21, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey. (Credit: Andy Marlin – Getty Images)
Jaroslav Halak (Record: 3-1-0 in 4GP) – The number one netminder for the Islanders will potentially make his first start between the pipes since his 4-0 shutout victory on October 26th over the Calgary Flames. Halak did not play on Thursday against Carolina due to an illness. He currently holds a .940 save percentage and 1.76 goals against average and presently ranks 4th in the league under each category. He has won four straight games against the Devils.
Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) scores a goal past New York Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss (1) in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Thomas Greiss (Record: 3-0-2 in 5GP) – The 29 year-old backup goaltender for the Islanders will potentially make his second consecutive start in goal this afternoon, having played on Thursday night in the Isles 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Greiss currently holds a .926 percentage and a 2.53 goals against average thus far this season.
New Jersey:
Michael Dal Colle #71 of the New York Islanders is stopped by Cory Schneider #35 of the New Jersey Devils during the first period at the Barclays Center on September 23, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
(Sept. 22, 2015 – Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)
Cory Schneider (Record: 5-2-1 in 8GP) – Schneider is slated to make his sixth consecutive start this afternoon. In 8 games played during the 2015-16 season, he currently holds a .919 save percentage and 2.22 goals against average. Schneider posted an impressive performance in New Jersey’s victory over Philadelphia on Thursday, recording a .964 save percentage and stopping 27 of 28 shots.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all updates throughout the afternoon. Our Twitter and Instagram pages can be found by searching @DevilsArmyBlog. If you are unable to attend the game, it will be televised on MSG beginning at 12:30 PM. Be sure to arrive early to Prudential Center for all Halloween festivities.
If you are interested in obtaining tickets for today’s game, be sure to take a look at all listings provided by tiqIQ.com by clicking here.
Nick Papadimas is a New Jersey native, New Jersey Devils season ticket holder, and avid hockey fan. He is an aspiring sports journalist who has covered high school sports and local events for TAPinto.net since 2012. Nick can be reached on Twitter (@ngpaps) or by e-mail at papadimasn@icloud.com.