Sunday night marked the ninth combination the Islanders have tried as a fourth line in just 18 games so far this season. See Also New York Islanders Islanders run out of late magic in loss to Avalanche as win streak ends at four It also might have,

The New York Islanders learned Sunday how competitive they could be with the NHL's best team so far this season.

Check back closer to game time for the Islanders official lineup. Scott Mayfield will miss his second-straight game as he flew back to Long Island for the birth of his first child. Adam Boqvist drew into the lineup for the first time since Oct. 30 on Thursday and defenseman Travis Mitchell was recalled from Bridgeport in a corresponding move.

Brock Nelson, like most people who have watched the Islanders for the past decade, keeps catching himself when he sees highlights of this year’s team. He notices No. 29, and it takes a moment to compute.

“Probably the best power play in the NHL, if not one of the best,” coach Patrick Roy said of the Devils, sixth in the league on the man advantage at 11-for-43 (25.6%). “And I thought our guys were unbelievable on the penalty kill. The blocked shots and the way we cut those lines. And when it wasn’t there, Ilya was phenomenal.”

Lamoriello, who had run NHL teams since 1987, said "the game has been great to me" in his first interview since being let go as GM in April.

The Dallas Stars host the New York Islanders after Jason Robertson recorded a hat trick in the Stars’ 5-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. Dallas has gone 6-3-1 at home and 12-4-3 overall. The Stars are first in the Western Conference with 22 power-play goals.