Game preview: New York Islanders visit St. Louis Blues in interconference meeting

The New York Islanders will take on the St. Louis Blues on Thursday evening at the Enterprise Center. The Islanders are coming off their first win of the season, a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

The Isles played a strong game in their last outing and will be looking to continue building momentum. As for the Blues, they are 2-2 on the season and will be looking to get back on track.

This game marks the first of two meetings between these two clubs. Fans can catch the action at 8 pm EST on MSGSN, MSG+, and ESPN+.

LAST GAME

The New York Islanders got a big win over the Colorado Avalanche with goals from Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. The top line also stepped up with Anthony Duclair leading the way. However, the biggest storyline was the return of Ilya Sorokin to the ice. Whatever ailments Sorokin had been going through appear to have vanished. Sorokin played well and should only continue to get better.

The Blues lost their last outing against the Wild, dropping a 4-1 decision. The Blues have had a bit of an up-and-down season thus far, showing signs of inconsistency. They will be looking to turn things around but will be in tough against an Islanders team that’s yet to play a bad game.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

The Blues and Isles met twice last season with the two clubs splitting the season series. On February 22, 2024, the Blues defeated the Isles 4-0 at home. On March 5, the Isles turned the tables, winning 4-2 at UBS Arena. Kyle Palmieri, JG Pageau, Bo Horvat, and Mathew Barzal had the goals for the New York Islanders.

After Thursday night’s tilt, the Blues and Islanders will meet once more on November 23 at UBS Arena, capping off their season series.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For the Isles, the attention will be in the crease. According to reports, it looks like Semyon Varlamov could be in goal for the Islanders. While Sorokin played well in his first start of the year, the Islanders have been vocal about easing Sorokin back into a regular workload.

Beyond a potential switch in goal, the Isles should ice the same lineup as they did against the Avalanche. Meanwhile, fans should keep an eye on the Isles’ bottom six. Oliver Wahlstrom and Simon Holmstrom will be looking to stay in the lineup as various players are pushing their way into the Islanders’ lineup.

For St. Louis, their top-scoring line featuring Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou should draw plenty of attention. Additionally, Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, the two players St. Louis pried away from the Edmonton Oilers via offer sheets, will be interesting to watch, as well.