Game Preview: New York Islanders look to bounce back against the Edmonton Oilers

The New York Islanders will take on the up-and-down Edmonton Oilers in an inter-conference showdown on Tuesday night. The Isles are looking to bounce back after a tough 4-3 overtime loss against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.

The clash should be a spirited one as the high-flying Oilers meet a hardworking Islanders team that will be looking to shut down Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and company.

Catch all the action on MSG+ and ESPN+. Puck drop is set for 8 pm EST at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

LAST GAME

The New York Islanders blew another third-period lead in their last game against the Devils. The Isles had a 3-1 lead at the 12:26 mark of the third before two goals tied the game. In particular. The Islanders have up the equalizer with less than a minute to go in the game. Then, Jack Hughes netted the winner at 2:35 of the overtime frame. The frustrating loss was certainly disappointing especially considering the Isles had a two-goal lead with less than half the period to go.

Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are coming off a big 7-3 win over their division rivals, the Vancouver Canucks. Connor McDavid had three points on the night with Leon Draisaitl adding a goal and an assist. For the Oilers, the win was significant as they currently hold a 7-7-1 record, good for fifth place in the Pacific Division.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

This game marks the first of two meetings between these two clubs. The New York Islanders are 4-6 in their last 10 games against the Oilers. In their last meeting, the Islanders pulled out a 3-1 win on December 19, 2023. The games have been relatively close during that span.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Simon Holmstrom will be one player to watch. He’s been playing well lately and seems to be getting his confidence back on track. He notched a power play goal last time out against the Devils. Also, Kyle Palmieri has been the Isles’ best forward this year. He seems energized and happy to be alongside Brock Nelson and Maxim Tsyplakov.

As for the Oilers, there’s no question that McDavid and Draisaitl are the players to watch on the ice. However, fans should keep an eye on goaltender Stuart Skinner. He’s been largely inconsistent this season. If he has a bad game, the Isles could pour it on, potentially scoring a bunch in a short period.