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The New York Islanders close out the pre-Olympic portion of their schedule Thursday night when they visit the New Jersey Devils in a Metropolitan Division matchup with real weight on both sides.
The Islanders arrive riding momentum after a dramatic 5-4 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at UBS Arena. Bo Horvat scored twice, including the overtime winner, and added an assist, while Mathew Barzal matched him with three points of his own. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer continued his standout season with a goal and an assist, Ryan Pulock also scored, and Ilya Sorokin turned aside 31 shots as New York snapped a two-game skid.
Thursday’s game also marks the return of rookie forward Cal Ritchie, who will rejoin the lineup after missing six games with a lower-body injury. Ritchie is expected to center Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin and reclaim his spot on the power play. Anthony Duclair will come out of the lineup to make room.
The Islanders’ special teams remain a strength heading into the matchup. Their penalty kill has been perfect over the last two games and now ranks eighth in the NHL at 82.3 percent. New York is also unbeaten in overtime this season, going 6-0 when games reach the extra frame.
Schaefer enters Thursday on a milestone watch. The 18-year-old has scored in three of the Islanders’ last four games and sits at 16 goals on the season, one shy of tying the NHL record for goals by an 18-year-old defenseman and the Islanders’ franchise mark for a rookie blueliner.
New Jersey enters the night struggling, having lost four of its last five games, including a 3-0 shutout loss to Columbus. The Devils will be without Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes, while Nico Hischier remains their top offensive threat.
The Islanders are 3-0 against the Devils this season and sit third in the division with 67 points. A win would give them a season-series sweep and valuable breathing room in the playoff race heading into the Olympic break.