The Tiebreaker: The Islanders and Devils split the first two games of their three-game set, with the home team taking each game. The Isles gutted out a 1-0 win on Sunday, but after a three-day layoff, lost 5-1 at Prudential Center Thursday. The season series is also tied at two games apiece and with a win, the Islanders would earn at least a split in the series for the second consecutive season. The last time they won the season series over New Jersey was 2007-08.

Fifteen and Counting: The Islanders have entered the final stretch of the regular season with 15 games remaining on their schedule. The margin for error is razor thin at this juncture, making this a crucial game. The Islanders next four games are all against playoff teams, so there are no breaks in a tough first-half of March. 

Ullstrom and Bailey: Josh Bailey has five points (4g/1a) in his last five games playing on a line with David Ullstrom and Frans Nielsen. Five of Ullstrom’s six points this season have been connected to Bailey in some form. The duo picked up the primary and secondary assist on Andrew MacDonald’s lone goal Thursday night.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 13th career hat trick as the Islanders lost 5-1 to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. Kovalchuk scored a goal in each period while Patrik Elias and David Clarkson added insurance tallies for the Devils. Andrew MacDonald was the only Islander to beat Martin Brodeur, scoring from behind the goal line. It was the second game of a three game set between the Islanders and Devils this week.

Jack Capuano on what the Islanders need to do on Saturday to win: “We have to get some guys to play with a little bit more passion and urgency. If not, it’ll be the same result.”