New Jersey @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 23, 2018 ) NY Islanders 4, New Jersey 3

The New York Islanders have successfully changed the narrative after allowing the most goals in the NHL last season. Now the stingiest club in the league, the Islanders look to record their 10th win in their last 12 outings overall and defeat the New Jersey Devils for the third time this season on Thursday when the Metropolitan Division rivals meet at Nassau Coliseum.

"We're playing as a team, we're playing for each other," goaltender Robin Lehner said following his 30-save performance in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over St. Louis. "Everyone throws themselves in, everyone tries to get in front of the puck, everyone does everything they can. That's what we got to keep on doing." The 27-year-old Swede has honored his words, yielding a total of 19 goals in his last 13 games to lower his NHL-best goals-against average to 2.16 while posting a 9-1-0 mark in his last 10 decisions. The Devils began to build momentum with back-to-back wins before their pronounced road woes reared their ugly head once again on Tuesday as the team dropped to 5-16-3 when designated as the away opponent with a 4-1 setback in Columbus. "It's beyond frustrating," veteran forward Brian Boyle said. "You try to get some traction going. We work extremely hard. It's been months of not (getting) the results we wanted."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus, MSG-Plus2

ABOUT THE DEVILS (18-21-7): Blake Coleman has six goals in his last seven contests, including five to go along with two assists during a career-high five-game point streak. While the 27-year-old has been getting positive reviews of late, the same can't be said for the remainder of the team after coach John Hynes told reporters that "certain individuals" were not ready to play in the last game and did not perform to an acceptable level. Keith Kinkaid has dropped both contests to the Islanders this season and saw his current losing skid extend to four outings after permitting four goals on 34 shots versus the Blue Jackets.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (26-15-4): Captain Anders Lee, who is tied with Brock Nelson for the team lead in goals (16), has recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last seven games while Jordan Eberle has four points (three goals, one assist) in six contests since returning from a four-game absence due to an upper-body injury. Reigning Calder Trophy recipient Mathew Barzal has boosted his club-best totals in assists (30) and points (43) with four and five, respectively, over the last four outings. Barzal has been a thorn in the side of the Devils, racking up four assists last season and scoring in overtime of a 4-3 win on Nov. 23.

OVERTIME

1. New Jersey RW Kyle Palmieri (club-best 22 goals, 38 points) has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last six games.

2. Islanders C Valtteri Filppula, who scored in overtime against the Blues, had two assists against the Devils on Nov. 23.

3. New York owns an 11-5-1 mark against Metropolitan Division representatives.

PREDICTION: Islanders 4, Devils 2