Game Preview: Islanders at Devils

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-1-0) AT NEW JERSEY DEVILS (2-1-1)
7PM | PRUDENTIAL CENTER
WATCH: MSG+2 | MSG GO | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 970AM
The New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils meet for the second time in as many games, as the teams finish up a home-and-home set at Prudential Center.
The Islanders beat the Devils 4-1 on Thursday night Nassau Coliseum, led by a three-point game from Mathew Barzal (1G, 2A) and a two-goal effort from Jordan Eberle. Semyon Varlamov stopped 30-of-31 shots in the win, as the Islanders won their second-straight contest and handed the Devils their first regulation loss. After playing New Jersey three days prior, the Islanders are expecting the Devils to make adjustments for the rematch.

"It's one thing to watch tape of a team against someone else, it's another thing to watch them against yourself," Cal Clutterbuck said. "Treat it like a mini playoff series. You see the same teams over and over again, I'm sure every staff is going over things with a fine tooth comb, trying to gain an edge. We're confident in our staff and their ability to do that."
The Islanders are 6-1-0 in their last seven meetings with the Devils and have won three straight games in New Jersey.

Sunday's contest kicks off a five-game road trip for the Islanders, who will play five times in eight days (Tuesday/Thursday in Washington, Saturday/Sunday in Philadelphia). It's the first out-of-state trip for the Islanders this season, but it'll look and feel different from past trips, or even the bubble, as COVID protocols require players to stay in the team hotel and not congregate in groups or in common areas.
"I would say the road trips are a little different because you can't hang out like you used to," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "Guys could go have dinner, hang out, go play cards, you can't do that now. It's sort of becomes a lonely place. In the bubble we had ping pong tournaments, we had those type of things. This is different, it's go to your room. We're fortunate we have a couple gamers, they keep busy with that, we've seen every Netflix show and the good thing is there's other hockey on."
Trotz said he trusts his group to adhere to the protocols and that it's a sign of respect between teammates. The Islanders are a mature and professional group and are looking at the positive aspects of the new rules of the road.
"I think we all found it a bit easier having most decisions made for you," Clutterbuck said. "You have a schedule, structure, things you need to follow, rules you need to follow It eliminates distraction. It eliminates your need to find a spot for dinner for, decide who you're going to go with. I's very simple. Especially in the day and age today, some guys have families, some guys don't, it's hard to find a little bit of time to be alone with your thoughts. You look forward to it, you spend time with your teammates. You have guide lines you follow and focus on playing hockey and playing well."

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ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders have allowed six total goals in their first four games this season, their fewest since 1981-82.
  - Semyon Varlamov has allowed only one goal in his first three starts of the season. Varlamov set a franchise record for longest shutout streak to start a season at 1:42:10 before allowing a second-period goal on Thursday. The Islanders goaltender is 3-0-0 to start the year with a 0.33 GAA and a .988 SV%.
  - Noah Dobson recorded the first two-point game of his career on Thursday, while also tying a career-high with 20:24 TOI. Dobson is tied with Nick Leddy for the team lead in assists with three. The sophomore defenseman also blocked seven shots in Thursday's win.
  - While Andy Greene played against his former team for the first time on Thursday, Sunday marks the former Devils' first trip back to Prudential Center since being traded last February.
  - Ryan Pulock is expected to play in his 200th consecutive game on Sunday. On Thursday, Pulock broke a tie with Gerry Hart for sole possession of third on the franchise's consecutive game streak for defensemen.
  - With his 323rd assist on Thursday, Josh Bailey tied Brent Sutter for eighth place on the Islanders all-time franchise assist list. Bailey played on Thursday one day after appearing on the NHL's COVID protocol list. Bailey said his son produced a false positive test earlier in the week, before returning a series of negative tests.
  "We followed the necessary steps," Bailey said. "For a couple of days there it was touch and go, but at the same time, it all worked out."
  - With a win, Barry Trotz (848) can tie Ken Hitchcock for third place on the NHL's all-time coaching wins list.

DEVILS NOTES:

• Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood missed Thursday's game after being placed on the NHL's COVID protocol list. The goaltender did not practice with the Devils on Saturday. Blackwood got off to a sizzling start to the season, posting a 2-0-1 record with a 1.90 GAA and a .948 SV%. Lindy Ruff said there was no timetable for Blackwood's return.
  - If Blackwood can't go, Scott Wedgewood will likely start for the Devils. Wedgewood stopped 31-of-35 shots on Thursday against the Islanders, looking solid in his first NHL start since Feb. 13, 2018. Eric Comrie is the Devils third goalie. Aaron Dell was claimed off waivers by the Devils on Monday, but due to the visa process and mandatory seven-day quarantine after crossing the border, the goaltender will not be available for Sunday.
  - Janne Kuokkanen skated on the Devils second line with Miles Wood and Travis Zajac during New Jersey's practice on Saturday. Andreas Johnsson skated with Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian,
  per the Devils official website
  .
  - Nick Merkley skated with the Devils main group on Saturday. Jesper Boqvist was reportedly an extra skater with the group, suggesting a Merkley for Boqvist switch in the lineup,
  per the Devils official website
  .
  - Defenseman Ty Smith is riding a four-game point streak. He is the 11th d-man in league history to begin his career with a point streak of four-or-more games, per NHL PR.