New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders [Game 43]

			-AT-
			7:00 PM EST
Radio	Network		Arena		Network	Radio
660 AM WFAN	ATTP		Barclay's Center		MSG+	88.7 FM WRHU
League	Value		Metric		Value	League
7th	63.8%		Points Percentage		52.4%	22nd
6th	19.83%		Net Power Play Percentage		14.89%	21st
3rd	87.94%		Net Penalty Kill Percentage		76.15%	29th
4th	107.78%		Combined Special Teams Percentage		91.05%	28th
8th	3.15		Goals for per Game (All Situations)		3.36	3rd
19th	3.00		Goals against per Game (All Situations)		3.67	31st
29th	-.50		Penalty +/- per Game (All Situations)		.26	10th
25th	47.87%		Shot Attempt Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		48.25%	22nd
22nd	47.89%		Scoring Chance Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		46.58%	28th
9th	100.80%		P.D.O. (5V5)		100.57%	14th
5th	8.72%		Shooting Percentage (5V5)		9.15%	3rd
20th	92.08%		Save Percentage (5V5)		91.42%	27th
Data from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick
The Enemies' Lair
All About The Jersey

The New York Islanders take to the ice in last place for the first time this season. If they wish to jump up in the standings, they'll have to accomplish that by beating a team that's looking to move into first place - the New Jersey Devils. If that doesn't sound difficult enough, they'll be playing rather short-handed.

The Islanders are obviously still without the services of Johnny Boychuk and Calvin de Haan on defense. Andrew Ladd and Josh Bailey left the contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins and will miss tonight's game as well. Ladd's injury seems short-term while Bailey seems more week to week. Devon Toews is also going to be out for the season thanks to shoulder surgery.

All of that leads to a lot of sub-replacement level players in tonight's contest. Ryan Pulock was a game time decision however, but he's in. Dennis Seidenberg is out while Sebastian Aho is back in. Alan Quine will be coupled up with John Tavares in place of Josh Bailey, Anthony Beauvillier will replace Andrew Ladd fresh off of an emergency callup, and Tanner Fritz will take Quine's spot on the third line.

Jaroslav Halak will be in net for the Islanders. Cory Schneider gets the call for New Jersey. Fans shouldn't let either team's low save percentage in five-on-five situations fool them - most of that has been thanks to the backups who have been next to useless on the season (the Devils traded the better backup option in Scott Wedgewood to the Arizona Coyotes earlier in the season because Keith Kinkaid is the good-in-the-locker-room goofy team mascot who likes to use memes and emojis on Twitter).

Perhaps the most interesting story line in today's contest - two of the three worst regularly-playing defensemen are going up against each other - Dennis Seidenberg who is probably the third worst in the league and Steven Santini who is almost unarguably the worst (Matt Bartkowski of the Calgary Flames is probably right in between the two). While Islanders fans continue to bemoan Seidenberg's usage, it pales in comparison to the Devils usage of Santini. It's the glaring exhaust port on this Devil's Death Star and Doug Weight should try and get as creative as possible to exploit it.

It's a Sunday afternoon game and tickets were quite expensive on the secondary market. Don't be surprised if the neighboring Devils fans show up in full force and make a lot of noise today. It's hard to imagine that the prices were driven by Islanders fans given the team's recent performance.

Today's game will be on MSG+. The Devils will make the rare appearance on standard MSG for those who wish to check out their broadcast. Puck drop will be at 1:05 P.M. E.S.T.

New Jersey Devils Lineup

New York Islanders Lineup