Islanders hope last-place Devils don't get in the way (Mar 31, 2017)
NEW YORK -- Coming off one of their most dispiriting losses of the season, the New York Islanders seek to revive their flagging playoff hopes Friday night when they host the last-place New Jersey Devils at Barclays Center.
Losers of three straight following a 6-3 defeat Thursday at the hands of the Flyers in Philadelphia, the Islanders (35-29-12) are six points out of the second Eastern Conference wild card, with six games to play and three teams ahead of them in the standings.
Their best hope for a quick turnaround is that the Islanders face off with the struggling Devils (27-35-14), who have lost four in a row and 14 of their last 16 since a 3-2 win over New York on Feb. 18.
"We have to be ready every period of every game, especially this time of the year when we're fighting for the playoffs," Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk said on MSG Network.
Boychuk returned to the lineup Thursday after a 12-game injury absence, and his teammates were far from ready against the Flyers, and it cost them dearly.
The Islanders surrendered five first-period goals, including four in the opening nine minutes. Starting goalie Thomas Greiss lasted just eight minutes and allowed three goals on eight shots before being replaced by Jaroslav Halak.
"It's really inexplicable," Islanders coach Doug Weight said on MSG Network. "When you give up five in this league, you're not coming back."
New York rallied to score three consecutive goals in the second and third periods, including the 100th of Cal Clutterbuck's career, but the hole was too deep for them to dig out of.
Now sitting in 11th place in the East, the Islanders are just 3-6-1 in their last 10 games.
"We just have to try and forget about this loss, and try and take the good from the second and third periods into (Friday's) game," Boychuk said.
The Devils look to play the role of spoiler, and they will have some reinforcements in the lineup to help their cause.
Veteran winger Michael Cammalleri, sidelined 13 straight games by an upper -body injury, returns to action for the Devils. Recently signed defenseman Michael Kapla will make his NHL debut against the Islanders.
Cammalleri adds a veteran scoring option to the Devils' attack, even though he has just 10 goals this season and none in 22 games since Jan. 3.
The undrafted Kapla wrapped up his four-year career at Massachusetts-Lowell last week and agreed to terms with the Devils on Tuesday. He was captain the previous two seasons and totaled 17 goals, 75 assists, 92 points and 100 penalty minutes in 152 collegiate games.
"It's a dream come true to sign an NHL contract, so I am very excited to be here and be part of the Devils organization," Kapla told NorthJersey.com. "I'm happy to get my feet wet and get a taste of what the NHL is like."
A solid two-way defenseman who likes to join the rush on one end while considered steady at the other, Kapla was on the Devils' second power-play unit at practice on Thursday.
"For one, he's a real character guy," Devils coach John Hynes said. "He's what we're looking to add more of to the organization: some leadership, some vocal-ness. On the ice, the thing we really like is he's got good hockey instincts. He moves the puck well and has poise under pressure."
The 22-year-old Kapla joins a long list of youngsters in the Devils' lineup as the organization evaluates its players the final week and a half of the season.
Including Kapla, seven players ages 22 or younger will skate against the Islanders on Friday when the Devils look to snap a four-game losing streak while further hindering New York's chances of making the playoffs.
Hynes said backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid will start, making it six straight games he and Cory Schneider will have alternated starts.
Weight did not name his starting goaltender, which is the third of four this season between the Islanders and Devils. Each team has one win.
