After dropping their first preseason game to the Rangers on Thursday, the New Jersey Devils (2-0-1 preseason) will face the New York Islanders (1-1-0 preseason) in the final tune-up game before the regular season. 

Overview

The Devils and Islanders are both teams that are looking to separate themselves from the Metropolitan Division dogpile this season. Saturday’s preseason game represents an opportunity for them to get in shape to do just that. Both teams are projected to send out their best lineups ahead of their season-openers this week, and they’ll look to get a feel for each other ahead of an early-season meeting next Saturday.

The Devils will have all of their regulars going Saturday in their final chance to warm up before they open the season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. For players like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Dougie Hamilton, tonight’s goal will be to shake off that last bit of rust. Deeper in the lineup, however, fringe players are still battling for the final opening night roster spots. Players like Amadeus Lombardi, Jesper Boqvist, and Stefan Noesen will try to force themselves into the lineup come Thursday, and tonight is their last chance to impress head coach Sheldon Keefe.

The Islanders will also send out their presumptive opening night squad. They’re coming off of a preseason tilt against the Rangers last night that saw many of their depth pieces and Hamilton-bound players get solid minutes. Friday night and Saturday will help New York make the final calls on who makes the opening night team. The Islanders already have their forward group all but locked in. Their most pressing decisions will be picking Illya Sorokin’s backup and the players the team will carry as scratches.

Lines and Pairings

Devils-

Forwards

Meier-Hischier-Evangelista

Mantha-Hughes-Bratt

Gritsyuk-Rodrigues-Mercer

Lombardi-Glass-Brown

Defense

Hughes-Pesce

Siegenthaler-Hamilton

Dillon-Chisholm

Goalies

Allen

Rittich

Islanders-

Forwards

Holmstrom-Horvat-Palmieri

Maccelli-Ritchie-Schenn

Eklund-Pageau-Heineman

Palat-Cizikas-Duclair

Defense

Pelech-Schaefer

Romanov-Pulock

Mayfield-DeAngelo

Goalies

Sorokin

Vanecek

Keys to the Game

Will the Fringe Players Make the Cut?

The Devils have a few fringe players competing for the final roster spots. Amadeus Lombardi has been stellar throughout camp. His goal against the Rangers certainly helped his case. He may have already forced himself onto the roster, but he’ll need to unseat one of Jesper Boqvist or Stefan Noesen, both solid veterans, to make the opening night lineup. A strong performance tonight might be just what he needs to prove he deserves to make his NHL debut against Philadelphia. 

New Jersey faces the choice of whether to have David Rittich or Nico Daws back up Jake Allen in goal. Allen will likely start Saturday, so that decision will have to wait until closer to the season.

First Look at New-Look Isles

The Islanders are returning a mostly-familiar cast from last year, but made an important switch at head coach late last year. Peter DeBoer joined New York last April, and it remains unclear how his system will work in his first full season with the team.

Notably, they’ll be missing Mathew Barzal to start the season after he aggravated a prior injury. That leaves space for Viktor Eklund to make the team, and will put pressure on players like Bo Horvat to create offense in his absence. With the Metropolitan Division set to be a bloodbath yet again, the Devils will hope to get an idea of what kind of Islanders team they’re facing tonight.

Where to Watch

Saturday’s game can be seen on MSG at 7:30 p.m. ET.