Andy Graziano, SNY.TV Twitter

The summer is over. Fall has arrived and with it, the return of the NHL. Training camps around the league will all be open for business soon, with the first on-ice sessions slated to begin Friday morning.

For the Islanders, it seems every year lately has been 'make or break,' for a variety of reasons. This year, however, the term might never be more accurate as the team looks to re-sign their franchise captain, finally bring some closure to a long, drawn out arena drama and return to the playoffs. The results of those three factors, each under their own cloud of uncertainty, could also decide the future fate of long-tenured general manager Garth Snow, who seems to be running out of time to turn this team into a true contender.

The Islanders announced they signed F Stephen Gionta to a one-year, two-way contract.

Newsday's Arthur Staple reports the contract is worth $650,000 for his time in the NHL, and $225,000 for AHL time. 

The 33-year-old played in 26 games have the Islanders last season where he notched one goal and five assists. He also played seven games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders AHL affiliate, talling one goal and two assists. 

The Islanders surrendered five first-period goals to the Flyers in a 6-3 loss Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. >> Read more...

First period:

• 4:30 PHI Dale Weiss; Assists: Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn
• 5:49 PHI Sean Couturier; Assists: Brandon Manning, Brayden Schenn
• 8:06 PHI Radko Gudas; Assists: Dale Weiss, Sean Couturier
• 9:19 PHI Jordan Weal; Assists: Wayne Simmonds, Valtteri Filppula
• 15:42 PHI Wayne Simmonds (power play); Assists: Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakub Voracek

Second period:

• 3:14 NYI Cal Clutterbuck; Assists: Stephen Gionta, Calvin de Haan

Third period:

• 0:40 NYI Jason Chimera; Assists: Calvin de Haan
• 16:02 NYI Andrew Ladd; Assists: Casey Cizikas, Adam Pelech
• 18:19 PHI Valtteri Filppula (empty net); Assists: Wayne Simmonds, Chris VandeVelde

Jean-Francois Berube and Thomas Greiss both allowed four goals as the New York Islanders lost to the Carolina Hurricanes, 8-4, on Monday at Barclays Center. >> Read more

First period:

• 9:11 NYI Ryan Strome; Assists: Andrew Ladd, Thomas Hickey
• 14:14 CAR Jaccob Slavin; Assists: Elias Lindholm, Victor Rask
• 14:40 CAR Joakim Nordstrom; Assists: Lee Stempniak, Slavin
• 17:32 NYI Stephen Gionta; Assists: Cal Clutterbuck, Nikolay Kulemin 

Second period:

• 2:43 NYI Calvin de Haan; Assists: Joshua Ho-Sang, Hickey
• 6:51 CAR Justin Faulk; Assists: Jordan Staal, Noah Hanifin
• 8:02 CAR Jeff Skinner; Assists: Elias Lindholm, Matt Tennyson
• 8:58 CAR Faulk; Assists: Noah Hanifin, Patrick Brown
• 11:45 CAR Slavin (short handed)
• 13:50 NYI Ho-Sang; Assist: Anthony Beauvillier

Third period:

• 3:43 CAR Skinner (Penalty Shot)
• 10:57 CAR Slavin; Assists: Teuvo Teravainen, Staal

Thomas Greiss will start in goal tonight for the Islanders, Doug Weight told reporters Thursday morning.

Cal Clutterbuck is day-to-day with a lower body injury, and will miss Thursday's game against Montreal. Shane Prince, dealing with an upper body injury, will also miss tonight's game.

Stephen Gionta and Bracken Kearns will take their spots in tonight's lineup.

Taylor Hall had three points but Keith Kinkaid allowed six goals in the New Jersey Devils' 6-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday at Barclays Center. >> Read more

First period:

• 9:15 NJ Miles Wood (Power play); Assists: Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri
• 14:33 NYI Ryan Strome; Assists: Anthony Beauvillier, Dennis Seidenberg

Second period:

• 2:44 NYI Casey Cizikas; Assists: Stephen Gionta
• 9:32 NYI Strome
• 11:59 NYI Andrew Ladd (short handed); Assist: Johnny Boychuk
• 13:21 NJ Palmieri; Assists: Travis Zajac, Hall
• 17:55 NJ Steven Santini; Assists: Zajac, Hall

Third period:

• 0:26 NYI John Tavares (power play); Assists: Strome, Anders Lee
• 1:00 NYI Jason Chimera
• 8:37 NJ Hall (Power play); Assists: Damon Severson, Keith Kinkaid

Ryan Strome had two goals and one assist as the New York Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils, 6-4, on Sunday at Barclays Center. >> Read more

First period:

• 9:15 NJ Miles Wood (Power play); Assists: Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri
• 14:33 NYI Ryan Strome; Assists: Anthony Beauvillier, Dennis Seidenberg

Second period:

• 2:44 NYI Casey Cizikas; Assists: Stephen Gionta
• 9:32 NYI Strome
• 11:59 NYI Andrew Ladd (short handed); Assist: Johnny Boychuk
• 13:21 NJ Palmieri; Assists: Travis Zajac, Hall
• 17:55 NJ Steven Santini; Assists: Zajac, Hall

Third period:

• 0:26 NYI John Tavares (power play); Assists: Strome, Anders Lee
• 1:00 NYI Jason Chimera
• 8:37 NJ Hall (Power play); Assists: Damon Severson, Keith Kinkaid

Andrew Ladd's two-goal night came at a perfect time for the islanders, but it wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of Stephen Gionta.

Six-and-a-half minutes into the second period, Gionta forced Marc Staal into a turnover behind the net, gained possession, and quickly sent a centering feed to Ladd who flicked a quick wrister past Henrik Lundqvist to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead.

For Gionta, it was his third point (all assists) in his seventh game this season

Andrew Ladd scored twice and the Islanders extended their unbeaten streak at the Barclays Center to 10 games with a 4-2 win over the Rangers, who came into the game having won six straight. >> Read more

First period:

• 6:23 NYR Nick Holden; Assists: Mats Zuccarello, Brady Skjei

Second period:

• 2:43 NYI Anders Lee; Assists: Josh Bailey, John Tavares
• 6:24 NYI Andrew Ladd; Assists: Stephen Gionta

Third period

• 3:03 NYI Nikolay Kulemin (short handed); Assists: John Tavares
• 3:46 NYR Jimmy Vesey (power play); Assists: Brady Skjei, Rick Nash
• 18:50 NYI Andrew Ladd (empty net); Assists: Jason Chimera

The New York Islanders beat the Colorado Avalanche, 5-1, Sunday at Barclays Center. >> Read more

First period:

• 8:12 COL Joe Colborne; Assists: Andreas Martinsen, Fedor Tyutin
• 12:01 NYI Nick Leddy; Assists: Stephen Gionta, Casey Cizikas

Second period:

• 14:46 NYI Ryan Strome (power play); Assists: John Tavares, Leddy

Third period:

• 1:21 NYI Anders Lee; Assists: Tavares, Johnny Boychuk
• 11:22 NYI Lee (power play); Assists: Boychuk, Leddy
• 13:48 NYI Jason Chimera; Assist: Brock Nelson

Thomas Greiss will be in net for the Islanders Thursday night when they face the Capitals, interim head coach Doug Weight said.

Thomas Hickey, Shane Prinece, and Stephen Gionta will all be out of the lineup, replaced by Scott Mayfield, Anders Lee, and Anthony Beauvillier. 

Thomas Greiss will be in net Friday night against the Panthers, head coach Jack Capuano said.

Anthony Beauvillier will be in for Shane Prince and the Islanders will also roll out two new lines.

Andrew Ladd, Brock Nelson, and Ryan Strome will skate on one of the new lines, with Alan Quine, Beauvillier, and Jason Chimera on the other.

Andy Graziano, SNY.TV

Snap your fingers…go ahead, just do it.

Just like that, the Islanders went from a team that won four of five and looked to be righting their wobbly, patchwork ship to set sail toward at least getting back in the playoff conversation, to a team that has now lost four of their last five, including back-to-back loser point 'efforts' in Colorado and Arizona -- the two easiest buildings of 2016-17 to win in.

The Islanders have signed Stephen Gionta to a one-year, two-way contract, the team announced Wednesday.

Gionta, 33, has a goal and two assists in seven games this season for Bridgeport of the AHL.

He had one goal and 10 assists in 82 games last season with the Devils.

#Isles Injury Update: Stephen Gionta will not return (lower body).

- New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 5, 2016

Andy Graziano, SNY.TV Twitter

The New York Islanders went through some dramatic roster changes this summer and only time will tell what effect they have on the results of the 2016-17 season when activities in preparation for puck drop begin this week at Northwell Health Ice Center.

First up is rookie camp, with the youngster's first day on the ice coming Friday, September 16 in East Meadow. There has not been an official camp roster announced at this time, with Mathew Barzal, Michael Dal Colle, Joshua Ho-Sang, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock the only five names so far made public.

The Islanders have had discussions with Stephen Gionta about bringing him in for a training camp tryout, reports Arthur Staple of Newsday, who says both sides are confident a deal will get done.

The two sides are talking about a PTO.

Gionta, 32, has played parts of the last six seasons with the New Jersey Devils. In 270 games, he has posted 15 goals, 50 points, and a 47.1 Corsi For Percentage.

C Stephen Gionta (upper body) will not return to tonight's game. #PHIvsNJD

- New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 17, 2016

Gionta is unsure if he'll suit up for Tuesday night's game against Buffalo, but it hasn't been ruled out.

?We'll see how he is. We're not sure yet,? interim coach Lou Lamoriello said Monday. ?We'll just see how he feels. We won't know that until tomorrow.?

New Jersey Devils vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - 7:00 pm

Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

TV:?MSG+ ? Radio:?WFAN 660-AM

New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks - 8:00 pm

United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV:?MSG+ 2 ?Radio:?WCBS 880-AM

New Jersey Devils vs Los Angeles Kings, 7 pm

Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

TV:?MSG+ ?Radio:?WFAN 101.9 fm, 660 am

Dave Turner:?

This is a tough decision, but the play of Eric Gelinas has put the Devils in a tough situation. If Gelinas wasn't playing as well as he is, the decision would be quite simple: send him back down to Albany. In the preseason he was good, and now in three games, he's already showing signs of the big-time expectations that this club has for him.

New Jersey assigned?goaltender Scott Wedgewood, defensemen Brandon Burlon, Eric Gelinas and Jon Merrill and forwards Stefan Matteau, Rod Pelley, Tim Sestito and Mike Sislo to Albany.

The returned defenseman Damon Severson to the WHL.

We'll be doing a weekly mailbag article each week during the season, so if you have a question or comment, feel free to tweet us @SNYDevils or tweet Dave and Jeff directly @DevilsInsiders.

The IIHF World Championships are happening abroad-- in Finland and Sweden, in fact. There are two Devils apiece on Teams USA and Russia and one on Team Sweden.

Stephen Gionta recorded his first IIHF World Championship goal, helping Team USA beat Team Finland 4-1 on Wednesday in Helsinki.

The IIHF World Championships are happening abroad-- in Finland and Sweden, in fact. There are two Devils apiece on Teams USA and Russia.

Those squads happened to square off Tuesday, with Ilya Kovalchuk gaining a goal and an assist in Russia's 5-3 win over the Americans?at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.

Via Rich Chere of The Star-Ledger:

Stephen Gionta and Ryan Carter will both play for Team USA in the world championships in Finland and Sweden.

Ilya Kovalchuk will play for Russia, in the same group as the U.S.

As I said on Twitter postgame, this was an impressive win for a lot of reasons. Yes, the Devils probably should've played like this at some point during their 10-game slide. No, two more wins like this won't drastically change how we look at the season. However, there were bright spots in this game that lend themselves toward a positive look for next season and it's possible missing the playoffs flipped a switch in the psyche of a lot of these players, which is another topic for another day. As for? tonight's game, some thoughts...

Fortitude: At least for me, the most impressive part of tonight's win came after the Canadiens scored two unanswered, the second of which came including one in the final minute of the second period. We've seen the Devils melt down multiple times in that scenario, giving up an early goal in the third and going on to lose in regulation or in extra play. It's been one of my biggest criticisms of this Devils team, particularly during their recent slide. This team lacked a strong enough mental edge to their game to rebound from "woe is us" moments. Tonight, though, they didn't need a timeout to correct them and while they struggled to get shots on net in the third, they still kept the Canadiens at bay for long stretches. Also, the Habs came out in the third and tried to bully the Devils, who fought right back. Ilya Kovalchuk, for one, went right at the Canadiens after he got hit from behind. Kovy's response, along with the the energy he's played with and the way he drives the train (so to speak), has me wondering if it should be Kovalchuk with the captain's "C" next season. I know Salvador is respected in the room and a lot of guys like him, but would it kill them to give it to Kovy and have Salvador take an "A?" I think it would be a wise move that would help shape the team's mindset going into next season. Food for thought.

If you didn't watch the first 10 minutes of today's game, you'd think it was one of the Devils' best efforts all season. Despite that (very) sub-par start, the Devils once again managed to "turn it on" after Pete DeBoer's timeout and just dominated the Panthers for the next 50 minutes. Some thoughts...

Wake-up call: The Pete DeBoer First Period Timeout should be sold in pharmacies across the country. It's best wake-up call I think I've ever seen. Why the Devils continue to need it -- especially in the throes of a desperate playoff chase -- is beyond me, but it certainly is the magical elixir this roster covets. The Devils came out painfully slow and were lacking any sort of energy. The Panthers were skating circles around them, getting to every loose puck. Both of Florida's goals were a result of out-efforting New Jersey, but that changed as soon as DeBoer called his infamous timeout. You could see him rotating his hand, signaling the Devils needed to pick up the energy. This wasn't one of those "settle down" timeouts. This was the "well-time expletive" version and it worked. Boy did it work. It took a few minutes but before long New Jersey was all over Florida, like a train that takes time to build up speed and then all of sudden is barreling down the tracks at 80 miles per hour. I know I've spent some time cracking on the Devils for their slow starts this season and their reliance on the P.D.F.P.T. (we might need a better acronym), but at this point, a win is a win is a win.

Did the Devils play an A-plus game? No. I'd argue they played a couple better overall games during the 10-game winless streak. But the important thing is the streak is over and the Devils are back in the win column thanks to a few superlative efforts. It likely won't get the Devils back in the playoff chase, but a couple wins over the last 10 days would be important for their confidence heading into the offseason. Some thoughts...

It's over: Everyone can breathe a big sign of relief. The winless streak is finally over and it didn't even take Ilya Kovalchuk returning to finally stop it. Of course, like I said above, this wasn't a perfect game. They struggled to put pucks on net in the first and had difficulty finishing in the second before Ryan Carter snapped one of Ilya Bryzgalov's shoulder. But the important thing was the Devils kept working in two very important areas: the neutral zone and below the Flyers' goal line. The Devils did a good job in long stretches of stopping the Flyers at the blue line and both of the Devils even-strength goals came as a result of their work in the neutral zone. As for the forecheck, it was strong almost all night long. The Devils generated a ton of chances off their pressure below the goal line and it eventually wore down Philly's defense. While the Devils aren't talented enough to out-skill teams, they are dedicated and strong enough to out-work them. It's a long shot, but wins like this are the kind of victories that send a team to length winning streaks. The Devils worked their way past an inferior opponent to a streak-busting victory and were rewarded after several games in which they played well but didn't win.

This one hurts as much as a Zdeno Chara slapshot to the wrist. While the rival (and eighth-place) Rangers won in a shootout to move four points head of the Devils, New Jersey lost what felt like a microcosm of their entire season. There was the awful start, injuries to key players affecting the team and the Devils coming up just short of a tie game and a guaranteed point in overtime. Like I said, this one hurts. Some thoughts...

Fragile: It's a word Pete DeBoer used to describe his team after the Devils allowed three early goals despite the Bruins taking four penalties in five minutes AND Martin Brodeur stopping a penalty shot. It seemed a wildly appropriate description for a team that has been known to cave at the end of periods, surrender goals in bunches and lose their heads in their own zone. There's a reason why the Devils always seem to play better after DeBoer calls a timeout. He can read whether they need a kick in the ass or a moment to breathe and then suddenly, they look like a different team. It happened tonight and it's happened countless other times this season. The team's psyche is fragile and they don't have enough extraordinarily talented players on the roster to carry them through rough patches. Without Ilya Kovalchuk, it's a collection of "guys" -- some with high-quality talent, but most without. A "fragile" team combined with a limited roster is a bad combination and it's why they've gone one two very bad losing streaks this season. This is not a team that can answer the bell and fight through adversity, which is so strange since it's nearly the same team as last year's that basically made adversity its 24th man on the bench. THIS is where we're seeing and feeling the loss of Zach Parise, who's attitude, work ethic and willingness to buy in no matter what would drive the Devils through difficult times. Maybe Travis Zajac or Adam Henrique will get there some day, but they're not there now.

Who: New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning

When: 7:30 p.m. ET; Pregame show at 7:00 p.m. ET

We guessed earlier that Salvador and Gionta were likely going to play, while Ponikarovsky seems like more of a wild card. The players themselves had pretty much the same sentiment.

https://twitter.com/TGfireandice/status/317378058778734592

https://twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils/status/317345723408592896

https://twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils/status/317345801837899776

Via Gulitti of Fire & Ice:

?Today is a day off and both of them are resting and we?ll know better tomorrow as to their status,? Lamoriello said.

Both players flew with team from Ottawa to Tampa, Fla. after Monday?s game. The team is spending the next two days at a resort outside Tampa. The players had today off after arriving there early this morning (after 3 a.m.) and will not practice Wednesday either.

There's two different ways you could look at tonight's game: Disappointing or gutsy. During their first contest without Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils fought through in-game injuries to two game players and an awful to start to eek out a consolation point. They also played some good hockey in the second and third periods, although there were mistakes and they were clearly tired in overtime. Some thoughts...

One and one: One game without Kovalchuk, one point for the Devils. This is how it will have to be. Yes, they would've liked to have picked up the extra point and surely played like it in the third period, but any points are important given the state they're in right now. If you'd like to be concerned, the Devils' record in overtimes and shootouts is reason for worry. New Jersey has left a lot of points on the ice this season after excelling in extra hockey last season. Will it be the difference between eighth and ninth? Too early to tell, but for now the Devils simply have to do everything they can to stay stagnant (at worst) in the standings while Kovy is out. Tonight, the Devils managed to overcome a dreadful start and seemingly woke up after being undressed by Pete DeBoer during a first-period timeout. The gears didn't really begin to turn until the second when Travis Zajac and Adam Henrique had some impressive shifts as DeBoer mixed and matched forwards given his limited bench. Over the final two periods, the Devils looked like a good hockey team that couldn't finish -- which is what they've looked like for stretches this season. Except there's no Kovy coming in to seal the deal with a rocket from the point or a perfect pass across the ice. Make no mistake, this is what the Devils will look like for the next two weeks. They could play very inspired hockey game in and game out and it will still be a challenge to score goals.

https://twitter.com/TGfireandice/status/316381263311298561

https://twitter.com/TGfireandice/status/316381351441993728

That certainly was not a pretty win by any means, but it was a win nonetheless. The Devils had one strong period surrounded by two sleepy ones and got away with two points against a very injured, very bad team. Of course, none of that matters if Ilya Kovalchuk is seriously hurt, but we'll reserve judgement until we hear something from the Devils. Some thoughts...

Two points is two points: We've talked about the Devils racking up standing points regardless of style and that was precisely what tonight's game was about. The Devils won't admit it, but it looks to me like they overlooked the Panthers. They came out flat and were pretty de-energized in the third period, as well (wonder if that late goal had anything to do with it?). The good news is they had a very strong second period and got just enough goals to beat one of the worst teams in the league. With the Senators winning earlier in the day and the Rangers and Canes each possessing a game in hand, the Devils just have to points on top of points. More importantly, they have to win games at home against teams they should beat -- like the Panthers. Martin Brodeur didn't have to be great -- although he had a great moment here and there in career win No. 666 -- but he was sharp enough outside of that brain fart behind the net at the end of the second period. More importantly, this win puts pressure on the teams around the Devils to keep up, which can only help New Jersey. Hell, at this point, the Devils could be within four points of fifth place with a win over Ottawa on Tuesday and that's ahead of a sweepable two-game trip to the Florida teams next weekend. All in all, the Devils have things to work (the power play, for one), but they can leave the arena tonight knowing they did enough to help their playoff positioning and these days that's really the only thing that matters.

Who: New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers

When: 7 p.m. ET; Pregame show at 6:30 p.m. ET

Wins don't get much bigger than that. The Devils desperately needed a "W" before tonight's game and it became even more crucial considering the sterling effort they got from Johan Hedberg. As bad as last night was, tonight was a strong, strong effort across the board. Some thoughts...

Moose call: Honestly, that game shouldn't have even gone to overtime. While the Evander Kane goal (Holy shit, what a shot) was unavoidable and basically unstoppable, the Mark Stuart score only happened because Andy Greene had brain fart and tried to play a bouncing puck about a foot in front of Hedberg. If you look on the replay, Hedberg was in perfect position to stop Stuart's shot and likely would have. Now, does that mean the Jets wouldn't have scored another time and forced OT regardless? No, but I use it to point out that Hedberg was about as iron-clad as goalies get, especially backup goalies. Moose had probably his second-best game since taking over the full-time gig and it couldn't have come at a better time. The Devils needed this game in every sense of the word and their goalie delivered. Hedberg doesn't need to play this well every night, but the Devils do need his play to be close to what they've gotten in two of the last three games. The most impressive thing I saw from Moose tonight was how he stayed calm and didn't get overwhelmed or downtrodden after the Stuart goal. We've seen him in past games (Saturday night in particular) give up goals in bunches after the defense lets him down or a bad bounce leads to a goal. Tonight, however, he bounced right back and got better as the game went on. He was the absolute reason the game didn't end before OT and he was the reason they won in a shootout. This was very much a goaltender duel and in the end, Hedberg made a couple more saves when it was necessary. Impressive, indeed. Necessary -- absolutely. Now, let's see if he can do it two games in a row.