New York @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2020 ) New Jersey 2, NY Islanders 1

The New York Islanders hope to wake up their dormant offense and keep a hold of second place in the Metropolitan Division when they visit the improving New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. The Islanders edged Colorado 1-0 on Monday behind 32 saves from Semyon Varlamov, but have managed two goals in the past three games and 13 during their current 3-4-0 speed bump.

Anders Lee scored the only goal 6:54 into the third period for New York on Monday while the red-hot Varlamov, who has made five straight starts but is expected to rest Tuesday, and league’s fourth-best scoring defense did the rest. The Islanders will try to avenge Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Devils at home when Nico Hischier’s goal broke a tie early in the third period, and win for the fifth time in six meetings between the division rivals. New Jersey suffered a regulation defeat for the first time in six games Saturday when Colorado scored the first three goals and went on to post a 5-2 victory in Newark, N.J. “The first 40 (minutes), I don’t think we got to our game,” Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine told reporters after the setback. “We said before the game we were either going to play on offense, or if we fed their transition game that we were going to play a lot of defense, and that’s what happened.”

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: MSG Plus, MSG

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (26-12-3): Thomas Greiss (11-7-0, .919 save percentage) is expected to be between the pipes for the first time since Dec. 27 and told reporters: “Varly has been playing great. I will get my chance to jump back in there and I’ll play my best and we’ll go from there.” Center Mathew Barzal has been kept off the scoresheet in three straight games and did not score in the past six contests, but leads the team with 16 goals and 34 points - three more than Brock Nelson, who has scored twice in his four outings. Lee posted his first goal in six contests Monday and has scored 10 in 24 games versus New Jersey.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (15-20-6): Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (14-11-5, .908 save percentage) won three of his past four decisions before leaving practice because of illness Monday and his status is uncertain, which could give backup Louis Domingue the start Tuesday. Right wing Kyle Palmieri leads the team in goals (15) and points (28) but managed only one assist in the last three contests, while forward Blake Coleman has scored twice in three games to bring his total to 13 - second on the club. Jack Hughes (six goals, 16 points), last June’s first overall draft pick Jack, and fellow forward Jesper Bratt (eight, 15) are day-to-day with minor injuries.

OVERTIME

1. New Jersey D Sami Vatanen boasts eight assists over his last seven contests.

2. New York F Josh Bailey has one of his 24 points in the last 11 games and was blanked in the last five.

3. Devils D Matt Tennyson (three points, 19 games) cleared waivers Monday and was sent to AHL Binghamton.

PREDICTION: Islanders 4, Devils 2