Game Preview: Islanders Host Pacific-Leading Canucks, Pelech's Probable Return

The New York Islanders (18-11-10) return home from a four-game road trip tonight as they host the Vancouver Canucks (26-11-3).

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

On Saturday, the Islanders dropped the last game of their road trip to the Vegas Golden Knights by a final score of 5-2. The game was tied 1-1 after the first period with goals from both Jack Eichel and Mathew Barzal.

Vegas took command of the game in the second period, where they started the third period up 3-1 after goals from Pavel Dorofeyev and Nic Roy. The Islanders challenged Roy’s goal for goaltender interference and were unsuccessful.

The failed challenge resulted in a power play for Vegas, where Eichel started the third, scoring his second of the game, making it a three-goal deficit. Matt Martin added a goal, with Roy scoring for the Golden Knights again.

This is the third time the Islanders and Canucks are facing off since the blockbuster trade involving Bo Horvat last January. Tonight’s game is the second and final meeting between the teams this season.

The first matchup had the Islanders surrender a two-goal lead before losing 4-3 in overtime, with Quinn Hughes burying the game-winner.

Ilya Sorokin was in the starter's crease at morning skate as he'll make his third straight start. He owns a 2-1-1 record in four starts against Vancouver with a 3.76 GAA and a .893 SV%.

Adam Pelech is a game-time decision after missing the last 20 games, but they skated alongside Scott Mayfield this morning. 

Samuel Bolduc looks to be coming out. 

The Canucks didn't hold a morning skate after beating the New York Rangers 6-3 on Monday night. Casey DeSmith is expected to start after Thatcher Demko started at MSG. 

Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal

Pierre Engvall -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri

Simon Holmstrom -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Julien Gauthier

Matt Martin -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck

Alexander Romanov -- Noah Dobson

Samuel Bolduc-- Scott Mayfield

Mike Reilly -- Sebastian Aho

Ilya Sorokin

Ken Appleby

Elias Pettersson -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser

Ilya Mikheyev -- Pius Suter -- Andrei Kuzmenko

Dakota Joshua -- Teddy Blueger -- Conor Garland

Nils Hoglander -- Nils Aman -- Sam Lafferty

Quinn Hughes -- Filip Hronek

Carson Soucy -- Tyler Myers

Nikita Zadorov -- Ian Cole

Casey DeSmith

Thatcher Demko

Matt Martin scored for the first time since October 28 against Columbus. Martin has two goals and three points on the season and has played in four games since returning from injured reserve.

Barzal has points in three straight games. The Islanders all-star selection scored a goal on Saturday that needed an official review to be confirmed.

Horvat has three points in the two games he has played against his former team. He has scored a goal in each of the two games against the Canucks.

The Canucks are coming off back-to-back wins against the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, where they scored six goals in each game. Vancouver has also scored five-plus goals in each of their last five wins.

Vancouver’s win against the Rangers came last night by a score of 6-3. They are 0-2-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season. This is the Canucks third game in four nights.

Thatcher Demko started for the Canucks last night, so backup Casey DeSmith is in line to start in goal.

Tonight the Islanders are the favorites coming in at -130 on the money line. The Canucks sit at +110. The spread is in favor of New York, coming in at 1.5, with the Over/Under number currently at 6.

All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.

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

Brendan Yerkes contributed to this report.