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Devils attempt to solve Islanders

Mar 21, 2008 - 12:08 PM NY Islanders (32-35-7) at New Jersey (42-24-7) 7:00 pm EDT

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) - The New Jersey Devils can only wonder where they would be in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a little more success against the New York Islanders.

The teams face off for the seventh time this season on Friday.

The Devils, locked in a battle with Pittsburgh and Montreal for the top spot in the East, hadn't beaten the Islanders until their last meeting on February 23. New Jersey had lost all five meetings this season (0-4-1) and six straight dating to last season.

The Devils are only 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and are coming off a 2-1 home shootout loss to the New York Rangers. New York is 6-0-0 against New Jersey this season.

Left wing Zach Parise has three goals and two assists against the Islanders this season. Martin Brodeur is 40-22-6 this season with a 2.13 goals-against average, but is only 1-4-0 against the Islanders. Brodeur has made 32 consecutive starts dating back to January 5.

Center Josef Vasicek has four goals against the Devils. Goaltender Rick DiPietro is 4-1-0 versus New Jersey with a 1.78 GAA, but on Wednesday underwent season-ending hip surgery for the second time in two years.