The Devils have deep respect for the 2007 Islanders. Afterall, they lost 5 times to them this season and if that doesn't send a chill through their room, not much else will. The Islander duo of Forsberg and Selanne is formidable and without giving any secrets away, the Devils will need their best defensive players all over them. With Brodeur on their side, the Devils get the experience edge. He's a cool customer and gets better with pressure giving his team a healthy confidence.
The weakness for the Devils is goal scoring. Not only will Zach Parise, Patrick Eaves and Chris Kelly see their first playoff action, they'll be asked to perform major roles. The inexperience up front has hurt the team on the scoreboard. The Islanders get the edge here as they have verteran forwards throughout their roster.
The Devils get the edge on the blueline. Scott Neidermayer is a champion and he'll lead the charge. Having Kubina and Zhitnik patroling the second line helps tremendously.
The Islanders are not the doormat team they were two seasons ago and to think of them this way would be suicide. Forsberg can potentially dominate this series. He can score, pass, play defence and knock the crap out of anyone who gets in his way.
The Long Island backline has the speedy Brian Rafalski, an intelligent playmaker, and at 39 ears old Teppo Numminen is bringing it every night. After the top two, they have a cast of medium level blueliners who'll be tested against the Devil firepower. When things get hectic the Devils will look to their ace, Scott Neidermayer. The Islanders don't have this luxury. They'll have to do it by committee and they'll need the performance of a lifetime from their giant Hal Gill.
In goal, it's not even close. The Island has two capable netminders but their number one owns a reputation for stud regular seasons and dud playoffs. Brzygalov on the other hand is an unknown factor.