The more interesting story for the Islanders is in their own end. Darche said plainly that "there's habits to break in the way we were defending" and that there'll be "some adjustment" before the group gets it. Matthew Schaefer has moved to the right side. Logan Stanley signed for 1 year to fill the left-side spot next to Tony DeAngelo, and the 6'7" defenseman brings a physical edge the blue line didn't have before. The Islanders opened the season in Toronto before coming home, so this is their second look at the new structure, against a Devils forward group that just piled 44 shots on Philadelphia.
Two things in New Jersey's opener deserve some caution. Philadelphia was playing the night after a 7-0 loss in Pittsburgh, so 44 shots against a tired team may overstate how the Devils are playing. New Jersey also has the shorter turnaround here, with Thursday's overtime game at the Prudential Center coming 2 nights before puck drop. Allen took the opener, and the Devils haven't said who starts in net Saturday.
New Jersey's injury list is about depth, not stars. Connor Brown is out, and Johnathan Kovacevic (knee), Nick Bjugstad and Seamus Casey all start the year on injured reserve. Losing Kovacevic and Casey thins the defense behind Hamilton and Luke Hughes. The Islanders are missing the bigger name in Barzal, and his absence changes how their whole top 6 is built.
Puck drop is 7:30 PM ET in Elmont, with a home-opener crowd behind the Islanders. The building will be loud. The question is whether a team still learning a new defensive system can contain Jack Hughes and Bratt when they're already in sync.