Game Preview: New York Islanders looking to shake off Blues after road trip

The New York Islanders will look to shake off another blown third-period lead in their last outing, taking on the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night at UBS Arena.

The Islanders (7-8-5) are currently riding a three-game losing streak after a Western Conference road trip that saw the club pick up a couple of overtime points. The Isles are in fifth in the Metro Division, six points behind New York Rangers for fourth place. The Blues (9-11-1) have had a bit of an up-and-down season. They sit in fifth place in the Central Division, three points behind the Colorado Avalanche for fourth place.

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LAST GAME

The New York Islanders are coming off a frustrating 2-1 loss against the Detroit Red Wings. The Islanders blew another third-period lead, this time being unable to hold on to a one-goal lead. While the Islanders played a strong game for 40 minutes, the Islanders could not complete a full 60-minute effort to hold on for the win.

The Blues squeaked out a 3-2 shootout win against the San Jose Sharks in their last game. The Blue have been trending in the wrong direction after starting off the season stronger than expected. However, it seems the Blues are beginning to fade and falling out of playing contention faster than anticipated.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

Saturday night’s game marks these two teams’ second meeting this season. The last time the two clubs met, the Blues pulled out a 1-0 shutout win at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on October 17. Jake Neighbours got the game’s lone goal. The Isles failed to pick up a strong performance by Ilya Sorokin, who stopped 29 of 30 shots. The Isles’ shutout loss in St. Louis was the Isles’ third shutout loss in their first six games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For the New York Islanders, the biggest focus will be on the offense. The Isles have had trouble scoring all season long, partly explaining the rash of blown third-period leads. Anders Lee will hopefully get back on the scoresheet after a strong run since moving to the top line. Similarly, Pierre Engvall has played well since returning from the AHL. The return of Alexander Romanov from a brief stint on the injured list has been a positive step. Isaiah George has continued to play well despite a few hiccups. George is now on the second pairing and doesn’t look like he’ll be headed back to Bridgeport any time soon.

For the Blues, leading scorer Jordan Kyrou is the player to watch. He’s got six goals and 18 points in 21 games. He’s fast becoming one of the league’s best young players. Also, Pavel Buchnevich continues to have a solid campaign, notching 12 points in 21 games for St. Louis.