New Jersey @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2019 ) NY Islanders 3, New Jersey 4

The New York Islanders answered a three-game skid by returning to their winning ways to conclude a recent road trip. The Islanders look to do the same in regard to their current three-game home losing streak on Thursday when they host the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.

Semyon Varlamov followed up a 25-save performance in New York's 3-1 victory at Minnesota on Sunday by turning aside 36 shots two days later in a 4-3 win at Washington. The 31-year-old sports a 14-3-3 record on the season for the Islanders, who reside six points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals. New York looks to inch closer at the expense of a New Jersey team that it has defeated 11 times in its last 15 encounters, highlighted by a four-game season sweep in 2018-19. The Devils are playing better hockey of late, however, as they extended their point streak to four games (3-0-1) with a 3-2 shootout victory over Boston on Tuesday.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE DEVILS (14-19-6): While Kyle Palmieri leads New Jersey in goals (15) and points (27) this season, the 28-year-old was unable to dent the scoresheet in all four encounters with New York in 2018-19 after tallying three times and notching an assist in the 2017-18 regular-season series. Blake Coleman scored his third goal in six games on Tuesday for New Jersey, which is in dire need of offense on the heels of trading away former Hart Trophy recipient Taylor Hall to Arizona. Workhorse goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood likely will get the nod on Thursday and carries an 8-4-0 mark on the road into Long Island.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (25-10-3): While Brock Nelson may have flown under the radar in the big-picture landscape, the 28-year-old has been a consistent source of offense with a team-best 26 goals during the calendar year of 2019. Nelson is New York's representative in the NHL's Last Men In contest for the league's upcoming All-Star Game later this month, much to the pleasure of coach Barry Trotz. "Obviously I'd like him on the team, but I was really glad that at least he's starting to get the recognition that he well deserves," Trotz said of Nelson, who collected 14 goals and 16 assists this season and one and three, respectively, against the Devils in 2018-19.

OVERTIME

1. New Jersey failed to win three straight games at any point during the 2019 calendar year.

2. Islanders captain Anders Lee scored three goals and set up another in four games versus the Devils last season.

3. New Jersey recalled Louis Domingue from his conditioning stint in Binghamton on Wednesday and sent fellow G Gilles Senn back to the American Hockey League affiliate.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Devils 1