Game Preview: Islanders Host Wild Following Carolina Collapse

Game Preview: Islanders Host Wild Following Carolina Collapse

EAST MEADOW, NY -- With the first 10 games of the season in the books, the New York Islanders (5-2-3) welcome the Minnesota Wild (4-5-2) to Long Island on Tuesday.

Puck drop from UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30.

The Islanders extended their point streak to five games against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday but once again let an extra point slip away. 

After taking a 3-0 lead on the division rival, the Hurricanes rallied for three goals in the final 29 minutes of regulation to tie it. Longtime Islander-killer Sebastian Aho scored in overtime, sealing a 4-3 overtime loss. 

New York relinquished 101 shot attempts in the loss, the first time since 2009 it's happened.

The Islanders held an optional morning skate on Tuesday.

Semyon Varlamov was the first goalie off for the Islanders, he’ll make his fourth start of the season tonight (2-1-0, 1.00 GAA, .972 SV%).

Adam Pelech once again skated with the team. He suffered a lower-body injury against the Washington Capitals Thursday but will likely come back in tonight.

Both defenseman Scott Mayfield and center Bo Horvat missed practice yesterday. Mayfield took a maintenance day after returning to the lineup on Saturday and was on the ice Tuesday.

He's expected to play. 

Horvat didn't skate and is day-to-day after blocking a shot against the Hurricanes. It sounds like he is out, but we will see at warmups. 

Anders Lee - Mathew Barzal - Oliver Wahlstrom

Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri

Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Hudson Fasching

Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson

Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock

Scott Mayfield - Sebastian Aho

Semyon Varlamov

Ilya Sorokin

Kirill Kaprizov-Marco Rossi-Matt Boldy

Marcus Johansson-Ryan Hartman-Mats Zuccarello

Marcus Foligno-Joel Eriksson Ek-Patrick Maroon

Brandon Duhaime-Connor Dewar-Vinni Lettieri

Jonas Brodin-Brock Faber

Jake Middleton-Dakota Mermis

Daemon Hunt-Calen Addison

Marc-Andre Fleury

Filip Gustavsson

Simon Holmstrom tallied a shorthanded goal in Saturday night’s game. The forward has goals in back-to-back games. He’s connected in goals with both of his linemates, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Hudson Fasching.

Casey Cizikas’ next goal will give him 100 for his NHL career. He would become the 34th player to reach the century mark for the team. The forward recently passed Mike Bossy for ninth all-time in games played for the team.

Through his time with the Canucks, Bo Horvat has the most career goals and points against Minnesota among active Islanders, with nine and 14, respectively. Both Minnesota-born forwards, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson, also have success against their local team, each boasting six goals against the Wild lifetime.

Semyon Varlamov comes into tonight’s game white hot. His active shutout streak spans 137:20 of game action, including back-to-back clean sheets against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Capitals. In 29 games against the Wild, he boasts a 13-14-1 record, 2.26 GAA and .928 SV%.

The Wild enter tonight’s game off a come-from-behind victory against the New York Rangers. After falling behind 3-0 early, the Wild tallied four straight to take the lead. Despite relinquishing the lead in the third, Matt Boldy scored the winner in the shootout, propelling Minnesota to a 5-4 victory.

Minnesota is a team that’s had the Islanders’ number over the years. Minnesota has won the last four matchups against the Islanders, their most recent loss on December 29, 2019. Their most recent meeting was a 2-1 shootout victory. After Josh Bailey and Ryan Reaves traded goals in the opening frame, Ilya Sorokin and Filip Gustavsson kept the game tied. Frederick Gaudreau scored the lone goal in the shootout to give Minnesota the win.

Four different Wild players lit the lamp for the team on Saturday against the Rangers, including Mats Zuccarello against his former team. The forward has four goals against the Islanders' lifetime, the most among active Minnesota players. Marcus Foligno holds the most points against the Islanders with 22.

Tonight’s starter, Marc-Andre Fleury, is chasing history. The netminder is five wins away from tying Patrick Roy for second on the NHL’s all-time wins list. Fleury has 47 games of experience against the Islanders, boasting a 27-12-5 record, including a tie in 2003, with a 2.44 GAA and .918 SV%.

Do you think the Islanders will beat the Wild? The Islanders enter as the favorite, coming in at -135 on the money line, and the Wild enter at +110. The over/under is set for 5.5 goals; the over sits at -110, and the under is at +110.

All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook

When the Wild skate onto UBS Arena ice tonight, they could be a mirror image of the home club. Check out their similarities, if you will:

Goaltending: The Orange and Blue enjoy the ideal one-two goaltending punch -- Ilya Sorokin-Semyon Varlamov. Minny does likewise with Fillip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Core Of Team: In each case, the lineups have essentially remained intact with few additions.

Key Changes: GM Lou Lamoriello added one meaningful roster name, Bo Horvat, in the home stretch. Needing a muscleman to replace Ryan Reaves, who was signed by Toronto,  GM Bii Guerin added Pat Maroon, holder of no less than three Stanley Cup rings.

Style: Both clubs think defense-first. Only five clubs gave up fewer goals than Minny. As per usual, the Islanders gained a playoff berth via solid blue-line play

Proven Mid-Level Vets. Jean-Gabrielle Pageau=Mats Zuccarello.

Young Talent On Defense: Noah Dobson=Brock Faber.

1. The Dreaded Three-Goal Lead still stings. Here's what went wrong: It was 3-2 for the home club with 6:46 to go. The Mayfield-Dobson duet was tired. This was the point where a time-out should have been called. Relief was needed.

2. Instead, Mayfield immediately was called for hooking, and Carolina scored on the power play.

3. Why Don't The Isles Do Better With Leads At Home? Tonight would be a good point to figure out a solution. Better planning and better entrances need to improve.

4. Blowing Overtime Points. Better defense -- bottom D pairing -- needs improvement.

5. Clear The Zone; It's an old problem.

Good News: After ten games, the Isles are 5-2-3

Tonight’s game can be found on MSGSN. On the radio, the game is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN. 

Matthew Page contributed to this report.