Game Preview: The NY Islanders Host the St. Louis Blues at UBS Arena

The NY Islanders (26-20-14) look to extend their three-game win streak and playoff push as they face the St. Louis Blues (32-26-3) at UBS Arena.

LAST GAME

The Islanders are coming into tonight's matchup after a two-day break following their dominant 5-1 win over conference rivals the Boston Bruins. Kyle Palmieri opened the scoring early just three minutes in. Palmieri scored two more goals, recording the fastest natural hat trick in Islander history. Anders Lee scored his 16th of the season, and Brock Nelson continued his hot streak and netted his 28th to give the Isles a 4-0 and 5-0 lead respectively. The Bruins got one past Sorokin to end the shutout, with Marc Mclaughlin scoring his first goal of the season. Head coach Patrick Roy said before the game that the mission was to play and win all 60 minutes. The Islanders dominated the first two periods, outscoring the Bruins 25-13. The momentum slowed down for the third, with the Isles only getting one shot on goal compared to the Bruins 9. Luckily, Sorokin and the defense stood tall and kept the Bruins' scoring prowess to just one goal on the night. It was a strong show by the Islanders, needing to bring their "must-win" attitude into tonight's matchup.

The Blues are on the second half of a back-to-back tonight, having played in Philadelphia last night. They beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 which was decided in a shootout. With the Islanders actively chasing the Flyers, they can thank the Blues for only allowing them to get a loser point. Scott Laughlin scored the game's first goal with a minute remaining in the first period. The Flyers held the Blues off the scoresheet for most of the second before Kevin Hayes tied the game with 5 minutes remaining in the second period. The Blues and Flyers played a pretty evenly matched third period, while the Flyers dominated the Blues in overtime, but they ultimately couldn't get one past Jordan Binnington. The Flyers and Blues both scored a shootout goal, bringing the game into extra rounds. In the 4th round, Owen Tippett couldn't score, and Pavel Buchnevich iced the win for the Blues.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

The Islanders and Blues last met not so long ago on February 22nd when the Islanders lost 4-0 at Enterprise Center. The game was one of the worst for the Islanders this season and one of the worst losses under Roy. They allowed Buchnevich to score a natural hat trick as the Blues scored the three fastest goals in franchise history during the second period. Brandon Saad scored, followed by two consecutive goals by Buchnevich in just 32 seconds. Despite an evenly matched first period, the game quickly got away from the Isles. Even though they lost horribly, the Islanders outshot the Blues 38-25. Binnington made 38 saves in his third shutout of the season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nelson has four goals in his last five games and is looking to stay hot against the Blues tonight. Speculation around him possibly being moved at the deadline can be put to rest after Lou Lamoriello stated the team wouldn't be selling.

Buchnevich has had a great few games, and it's obvious based on their last meeting that he loves playing against the Islanders and always shows out. Robert Thomas has four points in his last five games.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

ISLANDERS

Brock Nelson - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee - J.G. Pageau - Kyle Palmieri
Pierre Engvall - Casey Cizikas - Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin - Kyle MacLean - Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly - Sebastian Aho

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

BLUES

Pavel Buchnevich - Robert Thomas - Jordan Kyrou
Brandon Saad - Brayden Schenn - Jake Neighbours
Zachary Bolduc - Kevin Hayes - Kasperi Kapanen
Nathan Walker - Oskar Sundqvist - Alexey Toropchenko

Nick Leddy - Colton Parayko
Torey Krug - Justin Faulk
Marco Scandella - Scott Perunovich

Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington