Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (primary); MSG / MSGSN (regional); DAZN options
The Devils open their road schedule after a 3-2 overtime home win over the Philadelphia Flyers on October 1 (Jack Hughes with the OT winner). The Islanders host their home opener following a 2-1 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 30. This is a Metropolitan Division rivalry matchup.
Current Rosters & Projected Lineups
New Jersey Devils:
Key forwards: Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer, Anthony Mantha, Jack Hughes, and supporting depth (Stefan Noesen and others filling in). Defense features Dougie Hamilton and others, with depth adjustments.
Goaltenders: Jake Allen (probable after solid opener) / David Rittich or depth. Coach: Sheldon Keefe.
New York Islanders (projected from recent practice):
Forwards: Emil Heineman – Bo Horvat – Kyle Palmieri; Simon Holmström – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Anthony Duclair; Victor Eklund – Cal Ritchie – Brayden Schenn; Ondřej Palát – Casey Cizikas – Matias Maccelli (and extras).
Defense: Adam Pelech – Matthew Schaefer; Alexander Romanov – Ryan Pulock; Logan Stanley – Tony DeAngelo (and depth).
Goaltenders: Ilya Sorokin (confirmed starter) / Semyon Varlamov. Coach: Patrick Roy or current staff (reports reference Pete DeBoer adjustments in some coverage).
New Jersey relies on its skilled core (Hughes, Hischier, Bratt). The Islanders emphasize structure, secondary scoring, and Sorokin’s elite goaltending, adjusting without Mathew Barzal.
Injury Reports
New Jersey Devils:
Connor Brown (RW/F, upper/lower body) — OUT (this weekend).
Nick Bjugstad (C, torn left pectoral) — OUT (recovering; expected until January).
Johnathan Kovacevic (D, knee) — OUT (this weekend; recovering from minor procedure; practiced recently).
Seamus Casey (D, knee) — OUT (8-10 weeks following surgery).
New York Islanders:
Mathew Barzal (C, knee) — OUT (ongoing recovery; missed opener and listed out). Limited other major absences reported for this game.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Jack Hughes / Nico Hischier / Jesper Bratt vs. Islanders’ top defensive pairs (Pelech-Schaefer or Romanov-Pulock) and Ilya Sorokin. New Jersey’s high-end skill and speed against New York’s structured defense and elite goaltending.
Bo Horvat / Kyle Palmieri / secondary Islanders scoring vs. Devils’ defensive pairs and Jake Allen. Home openers often feature strong support play.
Dougie Hamilton / Devils blue line vs. Islanders’ forecheck. Transition and offensive contributions from the back end.
Goaltending: Jake Allen vs. Ilya Sorokin. Both enter with solid early numbers; Sorokin’s track record in big home games is a major factor.
Special teams and physicality: Rivalry intensity expected along the walls and in the neutral zone. Islanders have recent head-to-head success; Devils look to establish pace.
Recent Team Forms
New Jersey (1-0-0): OT win over Philadelphia (3-2). Preseason competitive against local rivals. Last season finished around 42-37-3. One day of rest after home opener.
New York (0-1-0): Narrow 2-1 loss at Toronto. Preseason mixed. Last season finished around 43-34-5. Two days of rest and home ice for the opener.
Series History
The Islanders hold a long-term edge in the all-time series (roughly 156-103-22 historically). Recent meetings heavily favor New York (swept or dominated the 2025-26 season series in reports, including multi-goal wins). Games are often tight or low-to-moderate scoring, with the Islanders strong at home in the rivalry. This is the first 2026-27 meeting (series tied 0-0).
Betting Trends
Islanders have dominated recent head-to-head. Home openers and rivalry games often stay tight. Early-season totals lean lower with strong goaltending (Sorokin/Allen). Public may lean Islanders on home ice and recent series success.
Game Odds
New Jersey Devils – 135
New York Islanders 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 2, 2026
