New Jersey Devils0vs.New York Islanders won6

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Oct 3 forecast

With New York missing Mathew Barzal against New Jersey's high offensive ceiling, a Devils road victory is genuinely close.

This divisional clash represents an evenly balanced contest between two contrasting rosters. The Devils bring superior top-end scoring punch, having returned all eight leading scorers from last season and opened their schedule with an overtime victory powered by Jack Hughes. However, New Jersey turns to backup goaltender Nico Daws for his first action of the year and faces a blue-line absence with Seamus Casey injured. The Islanders enter with heavy historical momentum, having swept the previous regular-season series and won seven of the last eight head-to-head meetings. In addition, elite netminder Ilya Sorokin has established total control against New Jersey in recent matchups. Offsetting New York's goaltending and home-ice edge is the continued absence of primary creator Mathew Barzal, leaving the Islanders with an anemic five-on-five attack that managed just one goal in their opener. With New York's defensive discipline and goaltending neutralizing New Jersey's offensive edge, the probability of an away win stands as a genuine toss-up.

Points to Islanders

Ilya Sorokin starts for New York after thoroughly dominating the Devils over the previous season.
Sorokin went 3-0-0 against the Devils in 2025-26 with a 0.99 goals-against average, .971 save percentage, and one shutout.
The Islanders hold overwhelming recent head-to-head dominance over New Jersey.
New York swept the 2025-26 season series against the Devils and entered the contest 7-0-1 in their previous eight meetings.
The Devils are starting backup goaltender Nico Daws on the road while resting Jake Allen.
Daws was confirmed for his first start of the season against New York, replacing Allen who had stopped 23 of 25 shots in the opener.

Points to Devils

The Islanders remain severely shorthanded in playmaking talent without Mathew Barzal in the lineup.
Barzal, who led New York with 72 points in 2025-26, remained sidelined and was not yet skating as of game day.
Jack Hughes and New Jersey's core offensive weapons are fully active and productive.
Hughes scored the overtime game-winner in New Jersey's season opener after leading the club with 77 points in 2025-26.

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