The New York Islanders (10-7-7) continue a season-long, six-game homestand tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets (8-14-5).
EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders (10-7-7) continue a season-long, six-game homestand tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets (8-14-5).
Puck drop from UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
In the first game of the homestand, New York’s third period woes continued against the San Jose Sharks. Julien Gauthier and Tomas Hertl traded goals in the first period, but the Islanders scored three straight goals on special teams. Brock Nelson and Ryan Pulock tallied bookend power play goals, while Mike Reilly added a shorthanded goal in the middle.
With a 4-1 lead late in the third, the Islanders couldn’t seal the deal. Kevin Labanc started the comeback with just over eight minutes left, while Tomas Hertl finished a hat trick with two six-on-five goals. In overtime, William Eklund finished off an odd-man rush to cap off a 5-4 San Jose win.
After the game, head coach Lane Lambert said, “We had the game under control with eight-and-a-half minutes left. To lose that game is sin.”
Morning Skate Updates
The Islanders held a morning skate at Northwell Health Ice Center on Thursday.
Semyon Varlamov was in the starter’s crease for New York, he’ll make his ninth start of the season and second against Columbus tonight (4-3-1, 2.50 GAA, .926 SV%).
Columbus skated at UBS Arena this morning following a slew of roster moves. Per Blue Jackets, THN reporter Jason Newland, Adam Boqvist (upper-body), Elvis Merzlikins (illness), and Cole Sillinger (upper-body) were all placed on the IR yesterday. In their place, Emil Bemstrom was called up from AHL Cleveland, with Nick Blankenberg and Jet Greaves joining on emergency recall.
Blue Jackets’ team reporter Jeff Svoboda said that a number of players for Columbus have been under the weather. Along with Merzlikins, Patrik Laine and defenseman Erik Gudbranson did not play the Blue Jackets’ last game on Tuesday due to illness. It is unknown if either will return to the lineup tonight.
Spencer Martin left the ice first for Columbus this morning, he will make his 10th appearance and eighth start of the season tonight (2-6-1, 3.20 GAA, .902 SV%).
New York Islanders Lines (Projected)
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Hudson Fasching
Julien Gauthier - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Alex Romanov - Noah Dobson
Mike Reilly - Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc - Scott Mayfield
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
Columbus Blue Jackets Lines (Projected)
Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Justin Danforth
Yegor Chinakhov -- Dmitri Voronkov -- Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson -- Adam Fantilli -- Emil Bemstrom
Alexandre Texier -- Sean Kuraly -- Mathieu Olivier
Zach Werenski – Nick Blankenburg
Ivan Provorov -- Andrew Peeke
Jake Bean -- David Jiricek
Spencer Martin
Jet Greaves
Islanders Notes
New York defeated the Blue Jackets in their first meeting on Oct. 28, 2-0. Kyle Palmieri opened the scoring late in the first period, with Matt Martin adding an insurance marker late in the third period. Those two goals were enough for Varlamov, who earned a 34-save clean sheet to silence the cannon.
With his goal in their first meeting, Palmieri now has four points in as many games against Columbus. The forward has three goals and an assist in that stretch.
Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom extended their point streaks on Tuesday night. Horvat added two helpers to make it a four-game point streak, totaling two goals and four assists. Holmstrom tallied his first two assists to make it points in three straight, totaling two goals and assists.
Brock Nelson leads active Islanders in goals against Columbus with 13 in 36 games. Anders Lee holds the lead in assists and points with 12 and 22, respectively.
Varlamov enters tonight’s game on a three-game winning streak against the Blue Jackets. In 18 career appearances, he boasts a 10-5-2 record, .939 SV%, and 2.13 GAA against Columbus. Since joining the Islanders, he is 3-0-0 in four appearances, contributing to a pair of shutouts, along with a .965 SV% and 1.33 GAA.
Blue Jackets Notes
Like the Islanders, Columbus couldn’t hang on to a three-goal lead in the final period against the Los Angeles Kings. Kirill Marchenko opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets, with Johnny Gaudreau and Mathiee Olivier added on in the second.
However, the final 20 was all Los Angeles, scoring three goals in the opening seven minutes of period three. Phillip Danault scored twice, and Arthur Kaliyev buried the equalizer, sending the game to overtime. 33 seconds in, Drew Doughty finished a one-timer, making the Kings 10-0-0 on the road to begin the season, tying an NHL record.
Columbus’ captain Boone Jenner enters the game hot. The center has six goals and three assists in his last 10 games, totaling six goals and three helpers. Johnny Gaudreau has also started to rebound, adding three red lights and six assists in the same timeframe.
Columbus’ top forwards also lead the way in scoring against the Islanders lifetime. Jenner leads the team with six goals against New York, while Gaudreau leads in assists and points with 12 and 17, respectively.
Martin will get his rematch with the Islanders from October’s matchup, where he yielded two goals on 34 shots. The Columbus netminder is 0-2-0 with a .887 SV% and 3.64 GAA in two career starts against the Islanders.
Betting Corner
Do you think the Islanders will beat the Blue Jackets? The Islanders are favored entering tonight’s game, sitting at -210 on the money line; Columbus comes in at +170. The over/under comes in at six goals, the over favored at -120 to the under at +100.
How to Watch
Tonight’s game is available on MSGSN. On the radio, tonight’s game can be found on 88.7 FM WRHU, 98.7 FM ESPN, and 103.9 LI News Radio.
Matthew Page contributed to this report.