The New Jersey Devils continue their preseason journey tonight, September 26, 2025, taking on the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET, with coverage available on MSGSN, MSGSN2, and Devils Hockey Radio, giving fans multiple ways to follow the action.
The Devils enter tonight’s game on the heels of a 6-2 preseason victory over the Islanders earlier this week. Jack Hughes, making his first appearance since March, contributed two assists, signaling that he is ready to return to full form for the regular season. Arseni Gritsyuk also impressed in the preseason opener, tallying a goal and an assist despite a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers.
Coach Sheldon Keefe is expected to field a lineup featuring more regular-season players than in previous exhibitions. Top names like Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, Ondrej Palat, and Dawson Mercer skated together in practice Thursday and could take the ice against the Islanders tonight. Defensive pairings remain a focus for Keefe, who experimented with Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton on separate units after reuniting them in an earlier game. For Hughes, the key takeaway from Tuesday’s matchup was remaining injury-free, a crucial factor as the Devils prepare for the regular season.
On the other side, the Islanders won their preseason opener Thursday night with a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Tonight, they are expected to deploy a more veteran-heavy lineup, providing a stern test for the Devils’ roster. First-overall pick Matthew Schaefer made an impact in his preseason debut, recording an assist and showcasing strong skating ability. With two meetings already scheduled this week, the Devils will be looking to build momentum and refine strategies as they continue their preseason schedule.
As the regular season approaches, the Devils face decisions regarding their defensive lineup. With Johnathan Kovacevic potentially missing time and Luke Hughes still developing his role, attention turns to potential options on the blue line, including prospects and emerging players like Nemec, Casey, or Edwards. How these pairings perform during preseason matchups like tonight’s will be critical in shaping the team’s early-season defensive strategy.
Fans seeking in-depth coverage, player updates, and game analysis throughout the season can follow the latest news on New Jersey Devils coverage from Explore New Jersey, keeping up with every goal, assist, and roster move as the team heads toward the 2025–2026 campaign.
