Game Preview: NY Islanders Look to End 6-Game Skid Against the Winnipeg Jets

The NY Islanders (29-25-15) are looking to split the season series against the Winnipeg Jets (44-20-5) at UBS Arena this afternoon, amid a 6-game losing streak. The Jets are currently in a race against the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division and sit just two points back of both teams. The Islanders are looking to stay in the Eastern Confrence Wild Card race tonight, sitting four points back of the Washington Capitals for third place, and five points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card spot.

LAST GAME

The Islanders last played on Thursday night in Detroit as they took on the Detroit Red Wings in one of the most crucial games of the season. The Isles continued to play their sloppy, dispassionate games and lost 6-3. The Isles were able to keep the Wings' offense at bay for a scoreless first period, something the Islanders have excelled at this season. Christian Fischer struck first for the Red Wings midway through the second period, but Isles defenseman Mike Riley tied it up just two minutes later. Despite having under half a period to play, the Islanders let the Wings get two more goals past Ilya Sorokin, who made 18/23 saves. By some miracle, the Islanders outshot the Wings 36-24 and in each period. With last-minutes goals by Andrew Copp and Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings went into the third period up 3-1.

The Wings didn't let the Isles have an easy start to the final period, scoring twice within a minute for a 5-1 lead. Copp scored his second of the game and 12th of the season, and Patrick Kane scored his 16th of the season in just 39 games, respectively. JG Pageau scored on the power play to make it 5-2, and Mat Barzal scored his 21st of the season to bring the Isles within two. He sits just one goal away from tying his clader-year goal total. Larkin iced a game with an empty net goal with four minutes remaining in the game.

The Winnipeg Jets are coming into tonight's matchup off of a loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. Jack Hughes scored twice, and three of four goals by the Devils were scored on the power play, while the final goal was an empty netter. Winnipeg was outscored by a total of 19-41 and went 0/4 on the man advantage.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

The Jets and Isles last faced off on January 16th in Winnipeg, with the Jets winning 4-2. Gabriel Vilardi scored first midway through the first period. Anders Lee tied the game at 1 with 5 minutes left in the first. Neal Pionk scored on the power play, and Mason Appleton scored his 7th of the season to make it 3-1 Jets. Lee scored his second of the game just 35 seconds into the third period to bring the Isles within 1, but Kyle Connor scored the empty net goal to give the Jets the 4-2 victory.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Barzal sits just one goal away from tying his calder year, and has historically played a great game against the Jets. Captain Lee has had intense eyes on him for the past few games, with fans needing his leadership in the locker room and especially on the ice to step up and motivate this team. The passion and soul used to define this Islanders team, and lately they have been a shell of their former self. Its time for Lee to step up and get them out of this rut.

Mark Scheifele has three goals and three assists in his last 5 games. Tyler Toffoli has 4 goals and two assists in his last 5.

PROJECTED LINES

ISLANDERS

Brock Nelson - Bo Horvat - Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee - Mat Barzal - Hudson Fasching
Pierre Engval - JG Pageau - Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly - Robert Bortuzzo

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

JETS

Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Alex Iafallo
Nikolaj Ehlers - Sean Monahan - Tyler Toffoli
Nino Neidereiter - Adam Lowry - Mason Appleton
Cole Perfetti - David Gustafsson - Vladislav Namestnikov

Josh Morrissey - Dylan Demelo
Brendan Dillon - Neal Pionk
Dylan Samberg - Nate Schmidt

Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit