Devils bounce back with big win in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The winless stretch is over.
The New Jersey Devils are back in the win column after a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders in Brooklyn on Tuesday night. Four unanswered goals by the Devils propelled the team to its first victory of 2018.

Here are 10 observations from the game:
1. There was a plan change at 4:50 p.m. when goaltender Cory Schneider fell ill and was unable to play. Schneider was originally scheduled to start against the Islanders, which meant that Keith Kinkaid got an unexpected start.
Backing up Kinkaid was Ken Appleby, who was recalled from Binghamton prior to the game. Tuesday marked just the second time in his hockey career that he dressed for an NHL game. Appleby backed up Cory Schneider March 9, 2017, in Colorado.
In order to make room for Appleby on the roster, the Devils sent defenseman Steven Santini to the AHL.
2. Devils forward Blake Coleman was a healthy scratch on Tuesday night. It was the first game that Coleman missed this season. With Coleman out, Stefan Noesen drew back into the lineup after he was made a healthy scratch the last two games.
3. The night got off to a difficult start for the Devils, who were behind the 8-ball just 1:39 into the game. Devils defenseman John Moore was outmuscled by Islanders forward Anders Lee at the blue line, giving Lee a clear breakaway where he would score on Kinkaid to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
4. Kyle Palmieri did more than just tie the game 1-1 at 15:20 of the first period, he got the power play going. For the second straight game, Palmieri scored on the power play from the left circle. His one-timer beat Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak, and was assisted on by Sami Vatanen and Marcus Johansson.
Tweet from @NJDevils: �� goes ���� for a @PSEGdelivers PPG! #NJDvsNYI pic.twitter.com/hzTQ8zhLXe
The goal was Palmieri's eighth of the season, and a team high sixth on the power play.
5. In the 749th career game of his career, veteran defenseman captain Andy Greene took part in his first ever fight. He and Islanders center Brock Nelson dropped the gloves after some pushing and shoving in Kinkaid's crease as time was expiring in the first period. Each player received five minutes for fighting to start the second period.

6. Johansson left the game during the first commercial break of the second period after he blocked Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy's point shot. Johansson lay on the ice for a moment before laboring towards the bench. He would return to start the third period.
   7. The Devils took their first lead of the game at 12:58 of the second period when defensemen Damon Severson fired a shot from the point on Halak. The goal gave the Devils a 2-1 lead, and would not be the only tally of the night for Severson.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: Severson so �� right now. Severson. #NJDvsNYI https://t.co/0rAxvUR7Hv pic.twitter.com/ZMXWDekWjg
   Brian Gibbons and Noesen earned the assists on the goal.
   8. Severson found the back of the net for a second time just 1:26 after his first tally of the night. The Devils took a two-goal lead on the Islanders at 14:24 of the second period, with Ben Lovejoy and Jesper Bratt picking up the assists.
   9. Taylor Hall capped off a three-goal second period, scoring his team leading 16th goal of the season at 18:20. Hall scored on a breakaway to extend his point streak to five games (4g-5a). Bratt earned his second point of the night, an assist on Hall's goal.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: Five games. Four goals. Five Assists. Nine Points.That's why he's our #HallStar. #NJDvsNYI pic.twitter.com/0IyQHvKvJa
   10. The Devils are 4-5-1 against their Metropolitan Division opponents this season. It is the only division where the Devils do not have a winning record. They'll face yet another Metropolitan Division opponent in their next game. The Devils host the Capitals on Thursday night at Prudential Center.