New Jersey Devils defeat New York Islanders 2-1 in preseason opener

The New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 in their NHL preseason opener at the Prudential Center. Ryan Schmelzer, captain of the Devils' AHL affiliate, scored the tying goal in the second period to follow an Islanders power-play goal by Cole Eiserman.

For the Islanders, head coach Pete DeBoer is focusing on defensive structure and systems work during a condensed training camp. A significant storyline for the franchise involves their goaltending depth. While Ilya Sorokin is expected to lead the team, the organization is monitoring Semyon Varlamov’s recovery from knee surgeries. Vitek Vanecek, signed to a one-year deal, serves as an insurance policy, though the team prefers not to carry three goaltenders unless necessary.

In recent roster moves, the Devils traded Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers for Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist, a move intended to free up cap space and upgrade the bottom-six forward group. Meanwhile, the Rangers are preparing for their own preseason matchups, utilizing a lineup primarily composed of prospects and players fighting for roster spots.