Game Preview: New York Islanders face Nashville Predators with season on the line

The New York Islanders will square off against the Nashville Predators at UBS Arena in a Saturday matinee with playoff implications for the Isles. The Isles remain on the fringes of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. As such, a win on Saturday is a must to keep the Islanders’ playoff hopes alive.

The Predators enter the game at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, as they look to play out the string and focus on regrouping for next season. The Preds were picked to be a contender in the Western Conference this season, but have failed to live up to expectations.

Fans can catch all the action on MSG+ and ESPN+. Puck drop is 12:30 pm.

LAST GAME

The New York Islanders (26-25-7) are coming off a big win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. The Islanders edged the Bruins 2-1 on goals by Alexander Romanov and Kyle Palmieri. Most importantly, the game was a tremendous bounce-back performance for Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin made 38 saves to seal the victory for the isles.

Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators (21-30-7) pulled out a big win against the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night by a 2-1 score. While the win was big, the Preds are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games and are well behind the St. Louis Blues for sixth place in the Central.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

Saturday afternoon’s matchup marks the first time the New York Islanders and Nashville Predators meet this season. They will play the second game of their two games this season on April 8 at Bridgestone Arena.

Last season, the two clubs split the season series. The Preds got a 3-1 win on January 13, 2024 at home. The Isles came back to get a 2-0 blanking at UBS Arena on April 6, 2024. That win snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Isles against the Preds dating back to 2018.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For the New York Islanders, the player to watch will be Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin has been the Islanders’ most important player this season. Sorokin has stolen games this season for the Isles, like the last outing against the Bruins. Also, fans should keep an eye on Alexander Romanov, who’s scored in his last two games.

As for the Predators, several veterans on the trade block are worth keeping an eye on. Ryan O’Reilly has been the subject of trade speculation all season. Similarly, blue liner Luke Schenn has also been discussed in trade rumors. Younger players like Tommy Novak, Luke Evangelista, and Colton Sissons have also surfaced in trade talk. These players may suddenly drop out of the lineup if they are involved in a trade.