Preseason hockey is in full swing as the New Jersey Devils (1-1) are set to take the ice for their third game. They’ll hit the road and take on the New York Islanders (1-1-1) for the second game in a row. The Devils were able to win the first matchup between the two teams, 6-2, at Prudential Center on Tuesday.
Matchup Overview
The last matchup between the two teams saw the Devils ice a team that would resemble what the opening night lineup could look like in Carolina on October 9. The regulars took the ice and controlled the game from puck drop and contributed heavily.
Jack Hughes and Timo Meier each had two assists and you saw the Devils power play go to work, converting on three of the four opportunities given to them. Newcomers Evgenii Dadonov and Connor Brown impressed in their debuts, but it’s the overall body of work that was impressive.
In the first game full of regulars, the Devils dominated during five-on-five play, posting a Corsi-for percentage (CF%) of 73.75. This was a step above where they were in the first game (50.67). Furthermore, they dominated with a 74.73 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%), which is encouraging entering the season. It’s only preseason, but you take the positives and things you are seeing.
Projected Lineups
New Jersey Devils
Check back to our social media pages closer to puck drop for the lineups.
Keys to the Game
Keep Building Chemistry With the Power Play
Preseason allows you to work out the kinks and get things right as the regular season approaches. The Devils’ power play overall was a major bright spot last year, finishing third overall with a 28.2% success rate. Despite no Luke Hughes (as of now), the power play for the Devils has looked good the first two games of the preseason.
Against the Rangers, the Devils went 2-for-6 with the man advantage and then 3-for-4 against the Islanders. Overall, that’s a 50% success rate through the two games. Seeing a player like Arseny Gritsyuk grab a goal in the first game is good, considering he could be a huge weapon on the second unit.
Top Line Cooking
It remains to be seen what exactly the Devils’ lineup will be, but if New Jersey showcases the Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Evgenii Dadonov line, we may be getting a preview of things to come. With how this is shaping up to be, this very likely is the Devils’ top line come opening night.
The trio shined brightly in the last matchup against the Islander. In 11:22 of time on ice, the trio out-attempted the opposition 12-4, good for a CF% of 75.00. Furthermore, they finished with a 59.96 xGF%, showcasing their control of the puck and creating chances.
After the game, Jesper Bratt expanded on why he enjoys playing with Hughes, “he’s such a smart player. Me and Jack were just watching him do his thing out there; really exciting player to play with.”
It’s going to be fun to watch this trio, who could be a huge part of the 2025-26 season success.
How to Watch
Friday night’s puck drop is slated for 7:00 pm ET and can be found on MSG.