NY Islanders look to maintain momentum as they host the Chicago Blackhawks at UBS

The New York Islanders return to UBS Arena on Tuesday night with a chance to keep their momentum rolling — and tighten their grip on a playoff spot.

Fresh off a 1-0 shutout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Islanders will look to secure their third straight home victory when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. That win, powered by Ilya Sorokin’s league-leading seventh shutout and Bo Horvat’s early goal, was exactly the type of response the team needed at this stage of the season.

With 85 points, the Islanders have climbed into the second Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference, but the margin for error remains razor-thin. Detroit trails by one point with a game in hand, while Columbus is tied in points but also holds a game in hand.

Every night — and every shift — continues to carry playoff implications.

Sorokin remains the backbone of it all. His consistency has not only stabilized the Islanders, but elevated them, giving the team confidence in tight, low-scoring games. Meanwhile, Horvat continues to produce in key moments, now sitting just one goal shy of the 30-goal mark and closing in on 300 for his career.

The Islanders are expected to roll with a similar lineup to Sunday’s win. Ryan Pulock doesn't appear to be quite ready with a lower-body injury, meaning Adam Boqvist will draw in again. David Rittich will get the start for the Islanders.

Chicago enters as a struggling team, having dropped seven of its last 10 games, but remains dangerous behind rookie star Connor Bedard, who continues to produce at a high level. Anton Frondell, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft was recalled from Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League and his expected to make his NHL debut tonight.