New York Islanders looking to fell the giant New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Devils superstar Ilya Kovalchuk plays against the New York Islanders Feb. 3 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The winger has been heating it up lately and is coming off a 3-assist game against the Flyers last night.New York Islanders center and Assistant Captain John Tavares pictured Feb. 3, 2013 against the Devils at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York. Tavares has been spectacular for the Islanders this season. He currently leads the team with 8 goals and has 8 assists in 16 games. Tavares had a shoot-out goal against the Rangers Thursday to help seal the win.New Jersey Devils backup goalie Johan Hedberg pictured Feb. 3, 2013 in a game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Hedberg is expected to get the nod against the Islanders again tonight. On Feb. 3 he shut the Islanders out.View the list »
New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov in net against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 3 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Islanders will need a strong game from their #1 goalie if they are to pull off a win against the Devils tonight. Nabokov is sporting a 5 win, 5 loss, 1 OTL record with a 2.98 goals against average and .900 save percentage.

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If the New York Islanders are going to dig themselves out of oblivion and make a run at the playoffs they’ll need to fell giants like the New Jersey Devils tonight. The Islanders seem to be on their way after defeating rivals the New York Rangers at the Garden Thursday. With the win the team ended an agonizing five-game losing streak.

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And for this game tonight it seems the stars have aligned for the Islanders. It seems that way on the surface, anyway. New Jersey is coming off little rest, having just won a hard-found battle against the Flyers last night. Meanwhile, backup goalie Johan Hedberg is expected to get the start between the pipes. Cakewalk, you say? Not so fast!

The last time these two teams met on Feb. 3, Hedberg and the Devils shut the Islanders out at home 3-0. And note: the Devils do just happen to be leading the Eastern Conference at the moment.

So, not only is this a statement game for the Islanders. If they can pull off a win, it’s the type of game that can turn a season around.

The Islanders will then face another Atlantic division foe Monday in the Flyers at the Coliseum.

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  • New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov in net against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 3 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Islanders will need a strong game from their #1 goalie if they are to pull off a win against the Devils tonight. Nabokov is sporting a 5 win, 5 loss, 1 OTL record with a 2.98 goals against average and .900 save percentage.
  • New Jersey Devils backup goalie Johan Hedberg pictured Feb. 3, 2013 in a game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Hedberg is expected to get the nod against the Islanders again tonight. On Feb. 3 he shut the Islanders out.
  • New York Islanders center and Assistant Captain John Tavares pictured Feb. 3, 2013 against the Devils at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York. Tavares has been spectacular for the Islanders this season. He currently leads the team with 8 goals and has 8 assists in 16 games. Tavares had a shoot-out goal against the Rangers Thursday to help seal the win.
  • New Jersey Devils superstar Ilya Kovalchuk plays against the New York Islanders Feb. 3 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The winger has been heating it up lately and is coming off a 3-assist game against the Flyers last night.
  • New Jersey Devils forward David Clarkson playing against the New York Islanders Feb. 3 in New York. Clarkson leads the team in goals and had an empty-netter against the Islanders Feb. 3.
  • New York Islanders forward John Tavares bringing out the puck from behind goalie Evgeni Nabokov Feb. 3 against the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York. The Islanders are looking to get back into playoff contention and could use a win tonight against the Eastern-Conference leading New Jersey Devils.
  • New Jersey Devils forward Steve Bernier skates by New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov after scoring his first of two third-period goals on Feb. 3 the last time the two teams met.
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, NY Sports Photography Examiner

Jai Agnish is a northern New Jersey-based journalist, photographer, videographer and musician. He is a professional editor of three award-winning community newspapers of North Jersey Media Group and contributes articles, photography, and video to various print and online publications. He covers...

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