Game preview: New York Islanders roll into Detroit to take on Red Wings

The New York Islanders hit the ice on Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings at the Little Caesars Arena. The Islanders will be looking to finish off their road trip with a win, while the Detroit Red Wings are looking to turn things around and get back into the Atlantic Division playoff race.

Fans can catch the action on MSG+ and ESPN+.

LAST GAME

The New York Islanders (7-7-5) lost a 2-1 shootout decision to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. The game was a solid, all-around performance. However, the Isles couldn’t hold a slim third-period lead, missing out on the two points.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings (7-9-2) have lost three straight and find themselves tied for last place in the Atlantic Division with the Montreal Canadiens. The Wings have had a disappointing start to the season. In their last outing, the Red Wings dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the San Jose Sharks, further fueling speculation about the team.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

Overall, the Isles are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games against the Red Wings. The last time the Islanders and Red Wings, the Wings pulled out a 1-0 win on October 22. The game was notable as the Red Wings only managed 10 shots on goal and still won the game. The Islanders played a fantastic game, but just couldn’t beat Alex Lyon who was brilliant on that night.

The Islanders will be looking to break through scoring-wise, hoping to avoid another defeat such as the last time the Isles played the wings.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The Islanders continue to ice a depleted lineup. However, Pierre Engvall has stepped up for the club. Engvall has three goals in his last three games. His resurgence has been a welcome boost to the team. Additionally, Isaiah George continues to turn heads with his performance since coming up from Bridgeport.

As for the Red Wings, the player to watch will be Cam Talbot. He’ll likely draw the start on Thursday night. It will be interesting to see as the last time the Isles faced the Wings they ran into Alex Lyon. So, there may be a chance the Isles face Lyon again. Also, Marco Kasper has been a revelation for the Wings this season. He’s lived up to the hype, being a top prospect.

Expect this game to be another tight-checking affair, with the Islanders hopefully scoring and breaking the shutout early in the game.