Devils vs. Islanders preview: The New Jersey Devils visit the New York Islanders on Saturday seeking a 2-0 start to their season. Puck drop at UBS Arena in Elmont is 7:30 p.m. ET.
New Jersey (1-0-0) beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 1; New York (0-1-0) lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Sept. 30. This is the first regular-season meeting of the 2026-27 series.
Devils vs Islanders game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSG, MSGSN
- Series: First regular-season meeting of 2026-27
By the numbers
- Points: Devils 5, Islanders 2
- Goals: Devils 3, Islanders 1
- Shots on goal: Devils 44, Islanders 27
- Shooting percentage: Devils 6.8%, Islanders 3.7%
- Save percentage: Devils .920, Islanders .923
- Goals against average: Devils 2.00, Islanders 2.00
- Faceoff percentage: Devils 50.0%, Islanders 40.0%
- Penalty minutes: Devils 2, Islanders 8
- Records: Devils 1-0-0, Islanders 0-1-0
Devils outlook
New Jersey has 5 points through one game on 3 goals and 44 shots on goal. According to the recap of their overtime win over the Flyers, the Devils generated that volume consistently. Jake Allen is the probable starting goalie after posting a .920 save percentage. Jack Hughes leads the team with 1 goal and Dougie Hamilton with 1 point.
New Jersey is also working around a thin lineup. Nick Bjugstad (left pectoral surgery) and Johnathan Kovacevic (right knee) remain on injured reserve, Seamus Casey (knee) is on IR with a return date of Nov. 21, and Connor Brown (lower body) is out, with a projected return of Oct. 6 for Kovacevic and Brown.
Islanders outlook
New York is last in the Metropolitan Division with zero points after scoring just 1 goal on 27 shots in its season opener. Ilya Sorokin is projected to start again; his .923 save percentage is better than New Jersey’s .920, but New York’s 3.7% shooting percentage and 40.0% faceoff rate show a team struggling to create and convert chances. Emil Heineman leads the Islanders with 1 goal and 1 point; Bo Horvat has 1 assist.
Mathew Barzal remains on injured reserve with a knee injury and is targeting an Oct. 6 return. According to Total Apex’s look at coach Peter DeBoer, the Islanders’ depth at center has been a storyline to watch.
Key matchup
New Jersey’s shot volume against New York’s struggling offense is the key matchup. The Devils generated 44 shots through one game while the Islanders managed 27; New York’s 3.7% shooting percentage and 40.0% faceoff rate reflect a team losing the possession battle. If the Islanders continue to lose at the dot, Sorokin will face sustained pressure behind a lineup still without Barzal at center.
What to watch
A win would open New Jersey’s regular season at 2-0-0 and drop New York to 0-2-0 at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders, who were picked to finish last in the Eastern Conference by at least one NHL writer, need a response at home to avoid an early hole. Barzal’s Oct. 6 target return looms as the next marker for New York’s lineup.
Reporting from FOX Sports, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report and NHL.com contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).
