Islanders vs. Canucks: Odds, Players to Watch, Lineups, TV and more

The New York Islanders begin the first game of their four-game road trip in Vancouver against the Canucks. Here’s everything to know about the matchup.

The New York Islanders are looking to fix their road woes against the Vancouver Canucks tonight. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. EST.

The Islanders have struggled as of recently, they have dropped six straight (0-3-3) and they have lost six in a row on the road (0-5-1). The Isles are looking for their first win since February 23rd when they beat the Sharks 4-1.

Last game was the Islanders best game in a while. They brought a much better effort and desperation to their game, but unfortunately, they lost in heartbreaking fashion in overtime to the Hurricanes 3-2.

The Canucks are coming into this game after losing 2-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.

Vancouver has not been playing their best hockey as of late. In their last five games the Canucks are 1-4-0. Just like the Islanders, Vancouver is in a tight playoff race for the Western Conference Wild Card.

Vancouver is in third place for the wild card with 76 points in 68 games. They are behind Minnesota, who has 77 points (69 GP), and Winnipeg, who has 78 points (70 GP). The Canucks do have a chance to catch Calgary, who are third in the Pacific Division with 79 points from 70 games.

The Season Series

The Isles and Canucks have only met once this year and that was back on February 1st at the Barclays Center. This was the Islanders first game since the all-star break and bye week.

The Canucks leading goal-scorer, JT Miller, got the Canucks on the board first just over two minutes into the game. The Isles answered just over three minutes later from a Michael Dal Colle goal. The first period ended tied 1-1.

Vancouver scored back to back goals in the second by Quinn Hughes and Tim Schaller (no longer on Vancouver) to take a 3-1 lead. Jordan Eberle found the back of the net with less than five minutes remaining in the second and the Isle took the ice at the start of the third down 3-2.

The Islanders pushed the whole third period to equal the scoring. The tying goal finally came with 26 seconds left in the game on a Brock Nelson redirect and regulation ended tied 3-3.

Just 42 seconds into overtime, Hughes ripped a shot from the slot and scored his second goal of the game to give the

Canucks the 4-3 overtime win

. Watch the goal below:

The Islanders outshot the Canucks 37-24 in this game and Thomas Greiss got the loss in net.
The Isles look to split the season series with a win tonight in Vancouver!

Tale of the Tape

Betting Odds

The Islanders come in to tonight’s game as the underdogs, courtesy of the Action Network.

This game is a toss-up. Both teams have struggled recently and both desperately need two points to help their playoff push. I expect a one-goal game.

Isles Country: Will the Islanders find a much-needed win tonight? Leave your score predictions in the comments below!

Potential Lineups

The Islanders are expected to only make two lineup changes to the lineup they had for Saturday’s heartbreaking loss against Carolina. 17 out of the 18 skaters in that lineup are expected to remain the same and the Islanders are expected to make a change in net.

The first change we are expected to see is in between the pipes. The Isles have rotated goalies recently and tonight is no different. Semyon Varlamov will come in for Greiss, who played well but got the loss on Saturday.

Next, as shown above, it looks like Cal Clutterbuck will come in for Michael Dal Colle. This will then move Leo Komarov up to the third line and Andrew Ladd up to the second line.

Anthony Beauvillier will move down to the wing with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Komarov.

The defensive core is expected to stay the same tonight.

The Islanders are expected to lineup like this tonight:

Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Ladd-Nelson-Bailey
Beauvillier-Pageau-Komarov
Martin-Brassard-Clutterbuck

Leddy-Pulock
Toews-Mayfield
Greene-Dobson

Varlamov (Greiss)

It is expected the Canucks will have the same lineup as they did on Sunday night against Columbus.

Vancouver is led by their top line of Miller, Pettersson, and Toffoli. Tyler Toffoli was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Kings. In return, the Kings received Schaller, Madden and two draft picks.

J.T. Miller is tied for the team lead in goals with Elias Pettersson (27 goals) and tied for the team lead with Hughes in assists (44 assists), but leads the team in points, with 71 points.

Unfortunately, the Canucks have suffered their fair share of injuries and will be missing key players tonight:

Vancouver will be without star forward Brock Boeser. Boeser has been out since February 8th due to a rib injury and he might return before the end of the regular season.

Also, the Canucks will be missing Micheal Ferland (out for season), Josh Leivo (out for regular season) and Jacob Markstrom (out).

The Canucks are expected to lineup like this:

Miller-Pettersson-Toffoli
Pearson-Horvat-Eriksson
Roussel-Gaudette-MacEwen
Motte-Sutter-Virtanen

Edler-Stecher
Hughes-Tanev
Fantenberg-Myers

Demko (Domingue)

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Where to Catch the Game

TV: MSG+, MSG GO, ESPN+

RADIO: 88.7FM 103.9FM 98.7FM