Game Preview: Islanders Visit Blue Jackets For First Matchup

COLUMBUS -- After a short stay at UBS Arena this week, the New York Islanders hit the road for a brief stop in the Buckeye State. The team will face off the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first meeting of the season on Saturday night.

Puck drop from Nationwide Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Islanders split their recent homestand, going 1-1-0. 

After suffering a 7-4 defeat to the Avalanche, they bounced back and beat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 Thursday night. The Islanders jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but then penalty troubles arose. 

The team took six minor penalties in the second period, allowing the Senators to tie the game. However, Ilya Sorokin kept the game tied, allowing Noah Dobson to break the tie in the third, propelling the Islanders to a 3-2 win.

Semyon Varlamov was the first goaltender off the ice. He stopped 39 of 42 in a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last Saturday. 

In 17 career games against Columbus, Varlamov owns a 9-5-2 record with a 2.26 GAA, a .935 SV%, and 3 SO.

Scott Mayfield did not make the trip, as he will miss his sixth straight game with a lower-body injury. 

Columbus did not commit to a starting goalie. Spencer Martin was the first goalie off, but head coach Pascal Vincent said it's a game-time decision. 

Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal

Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri

Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Oliver Wahlstrom

Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson

Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock

Samuel Bolduc - Sebastian Aho

Semyon Varlamov

Ilya Sorokin

Johnny Gaudreau – Boone Jenner – Jack Roslovic

Alexandre Texier – Adam Fantilli – Emil Bemstrom

Kirill Marchenko – Cole Sillinger – Justin Danforth

Dmitri Voronkov – Sean Kuraly – Mathieu Olivier

Zach Werenski – Damon Severson

Ivan Provorov – David Jiricek

Jake Bean – Erik Gudbranson

Spencer Martin

Elvis Merzlikins

 The Islanders went 2-0-1 against Columbus last season. The Jackets won their last matchup on March 24 5-4 in overtime. Kent Johnson scored a beautiful “Michigan” goal in the game, and Columbus led 4-2 after two periods.

Despite an Islander comeback to force overtime, a power play goal from Boone Jenner gave the Jackets the victory Noah Dobson and Mat Barzal each extended their point streaks to five games on Thursday night. 

Dobson has two goals and five assists in that span, while Barzal has a goal and four helpers.

Brock Nelson leads all active Islanders in goals vs. the Blue Jackets with 13. 

Anders Lee has 27 points lifetime against Columbus, the most among active players(Insert Islanders starting goalie stats vs. CBJ)

Columbus enters tonight’s game off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Emil Bemstrom tallied two goals to help Columbus to a 3-1 lead, but Montreal came back to tie in the third period. In overtime, Cole Caufield was the hero, scoring the game-winner and his third point of the night.

Jack Roslovic and Ivan Provorov are on four-game point streaks entering tonight’s game. Provorov, acquired from the Flyers this offseason, has four assists in that span. Roslovic, a Columbus native, has two goals and four helpers during the point streak.

Boone Jenner leads all active Blue Jackets in goals and points vs. the Islanders. Columbus’ captain has six goals and 14 points in 28 contests.

Do you think the Islanders will beat the Blue Jackets? The Islanders enter as the favorite on the money line, sitting at -155. Columbus enters at +130. The over/under comes in at six goals, the over sits at -120, while the under stands at +100.

All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook. 

Tonight’s game can be found on MSGSN. On the radio, tonight’s game will air on 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 LI News Radio. ESPN will also provide the game online through the ESPN New York app. 

Matthew Page contributed to this report.