The New York Islanders are finally at the last game of their five-game road trip, in which they have yet to win a game on it (0-3-1 record).
Tonight they face off, in the second game of a back-to-back, against the Flyers in Philadelphia. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. eastern time.
Last night, the Islanders picked up the first point of their road trip. They came back from a two-goal deficit against Philadelphia and forced the game to overtime. Unfortunately for the Isles, Scott Laughton scored the game winner for the Flyers in three-on-three action.
The New York Islanders can end this bad road trip on a high note with a win
After tonight’s game, the Islanders will have a three-game homestand next week. The Isles will matchup against the Sabres on Tuesday and Thursday, then finish their homestand against the Penguins on Saturday night (February 6).
Tale of the Tape
Betting Odds
The Islanders come into today as the underdogs, courtesy of the Action network.
Considering the Islanders are on a four-game losing streak, it is no surprise that they are the underdogs tonight.
Expect tonight to be the Isles’ best effort of the past week, as they look to return home with two crucial points against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Projected Lineups
Barry Trotz hinted before this two-game series that Ilya Sorokin would play one of the games this weekend. Since Semyon Varlamov played yesterday, it is projected that Sorokin will get his third NHL start tonight.
The only roster issue is that Sorokin is on the taxi squad and someone has to be sent down so Sorokin can get called into action.
It is projected that Oliver Wahlstrom will be sent to the taxi squad in exchange for Sorokin. Then, Ross Johnston is expected to take Wahlstrom’s spot on the Islanders third line.
The Islanders’ defense is projected to remain the same. Trotz and the Islanders coaching staff have been reluctant to make any changes to the blue and orange defensive pairings.
The Islanders are projected to lineup like this:
Lee-Barzal-Bailey
Komarov-Nelson-Eberle
Johnston-Pageau-Bellows
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Pelech-Pulock
Leddy-Mayfield
Dobson-Greene
Sorokin (Varlamov)
With no apparent injuries to any of the Flyers in last night’s contest, the Flyers are projected to keep the same roster for tonight’s clash.
The one change that Philadelphia is expected to make is in goal. Brian Elliott is projected to start in goal for Philadelphia after Carter Hart made 26 saves on 28 shots yesterday and got the win.
The Flyers are expected to lineup like this:
Giroux-Patrick-Raffl
Van Riemsdyk-Hayes-Voracek
Lindblom-Laughton-Farabee
Morin-Bunnaman-Aube Kubel
Provorov-Gostisbehere
Sanheim-Gustafsson
Prosser-Braun
Elliott (Hart)
Where to Catch the Game
TV: MSG+, NBCSP
Radio: 88.7FM 103.9FM 98.7FM
Livestream: MSG GO app, ESPN+
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*All Stats Provided by the NHL*