After dropping the first three games on their road trip, the New York Islanders (5-6-5) visit the Calgary Flames (6-8-2) in the finale of their Western Canada swing.
After dropping the first three games on their road trip, the New York Islanders (5-6-5) visit the Calgary Flames (6-8-2) in the finale of their Western Canada swing.
Puck drop from the Scotiabank Saddledome is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
The Islanders’ losing streak grew to seven against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. Anders Lee broke his scoring drought on the power play to open the scoring, but penalties once again loomed large as Matty Beniers and Alex Wennberg scored on the man advantage to give Seattle the lead.
Casey Cizikas tied the game in the second, and Noah Dobson added a power play goal of his own earlier in the third. However, the penalty kill contributed to another blown lead, as Kailer Yamamoto evened the game three minutes later. Yamamoto potted the winner in the shootout, propelling the Kraken to a 4-3 win.
The Islanders have not allowed a goal at five-on-five play in 153:19 of game time.
The last man to score against the Islanders at even strength was Leon Draisaitl at 14:13 in the second period of Monday night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Morning Skate Updates
Neither the Islanders nor Flames held a morning skate, with tonight’s game being a 5:00 p.m. MST start.
The Islanders have rotated goalies over the past few weeks. If that course continues, Ilya Sorokin will make his 11th start of the season tonight (3-3-4, 3.28 GAA, .907 SV%).
Jacob Markstrom (4-6-1, 2.66 GAA, .906 SV%) was in the starter’s net for the Flames in practice Friday. He’ll likely start tonight.
New York Islanders Lines (Projected)
Mathew Barzal - Bo Horvat - Simon Holmstrom
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Oliver Wahlstrom
Hudson Fasching - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock
Sebastian Aho-Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Calgary Flames Lines (Projected)
Dillon Dube - Elias Lindholm - Andrew Mangiapane
Connor Zary - Nazem Kadri - Martin Pospisil
Jonathan Huberdeau - Mikael Backlund - Blake Coleman
A.J. Greer - Adam Ruzicka - Yegor Sharangovich
MacKenzie Weegar - Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin - Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadorov - Nick DeSimone
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Islanders Note
Casey Cizikas notched his 100th career goal in the Emerald City on Thursday. He becomes the 34th Islander to reach the century mark with the franchise.
Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal made the most of their returns to the Pacific Northwest. Horvat tallied a goal and an assist and boasts a four-game point streak, while Barzal tallied four assists in two games to go with a three-game point streak with a goal and four helpers.
Horvat leads all active Islanders in every offensive category against the Flames. The former Canuck has 12 goals, 10 assists, and 22 points in 38 career games against Calgary, tonight is his first as a member of the Islanders.
Sorokin will make his third career start against the Flames. He split his first two meetings with Calgary with a .893 SV% and 3.87 GAA lifetime. Despite the high numbers, Sorokin helped the Islanders steal his last game against Calgary, stopping 43 of 46 shots.
Calgary Flames Notes
Calgary enters tonight’s game off a 5-2 victory against the rival Canucks. Elias Pettersson opened the scoring in the first, but Calgary rallied four straight goals. Nils Hoglander attempted to start a rally, but an Elias Lindholm empty net goal sealed the deal. Five different Flames lit the lamp on Thursday.
Two of Calgary’s offensive leaders were all over the scoresheet Thursday, including Elias Lindholm and Blake Coleman. Lindholm, who leads the team in points, tallied a goal and two assists, snapping a five-game point-less drought. Coleman, who is tied for the team lead in goals, has been on a roll, boasting five points in his last five games, including two goals and three assists.
Nazem Kadri leads active Flames in scoring against the Islanders. The 33-year-old boasts eight goals and 18 assists, good for 26 points.
Since signing with the Calgary, Markstrom has started every time the Islanders and Flames have met. In 12 career appearances against New York, he is 6-5-1 with a 2.98 GAA and .905 SV%. He’s earned points in all four matchups as a Flame, going 3-0-1 with a 2.21 GAA and .921 SV%.
Betting Corner
Do you think the Islanders will beat the Flames? The home team enters as the; Calgary comes in at -150 on the moneyline while the Islanders enter at +125. The over/under is set at six goals, the under comes in at -115, and the over sits at -105.
All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.
How To Watch
Tonight’s game can be found on MSGSN2 and NHL Network. On the radio, tonight’s game will be available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and the ESPN NY app.
Matthew Page contributed to the report.