Kieffer Bellows of the Islanders, center, celebrates his first-period goal on an assist from Mathew Barzal, left, against the Devils during a preseason game at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard on Saturday in Bridgeport, Conn. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — It didn’t take long for Kieffer Bellows to take advantage of his opportunity skating with top-liners Mathew Barzal and Kyle Palmieri.
Bellows, in a crowded battle to force his way onto the Islanders’ opening-night roster, converted Barzal’s two-on-one pass just 3:23 into Saturday’s preseason game against the Devils at Webster Bank Arena. The Islanders lost, 2-1, in overtime to a Devils’ squad largely devoid of NHL players.