Game Preview: Struggling Islanders Face Soaring Jets On Second Of Back-To-Back

With two losses in their first two games of their Midwest road trip, the New York Islanders (19-14-10) conclude a back-to-back against the Winnipeg Jets (28-10-4).

Puck drop for Canada Life Centre is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

The Islanders had no answers for the Minnesota Wild on Monday night. Minnesota opened the scoring in the first on a goal by Mats Zuccarello in the opening period, but that was all the Wild needed. Connor Dewar and Joel Erikson Ek added goals in the second, with Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno adding on against Kenny Appleby. Marc-Andre Fleury was spotless, making 21 stops and moving into sole possession of second all-time in wins by a goaltender with 552.

The Islanders held an optional morning skate. 

With Ilya Sorokin pulled in the second period of Monday’s game, it is likely he will return to the net against the Jets. Sorokin is 2-0-0 in his career against Winnipeg with a 0.50 GAA and .980 SV%, most recently letting up one goal on 26 shots in a victory on Feb. 22.

The Jets skated at Hockey For All Centre.

Kyle Connor practiced in a full-contact jersey on Monday after suffering a lower-body injury and will return against New York. 

Winnipeg News’ Mike McIntyre said that forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele were absent from practice on Monday due to injury. Ehlers is probable to play tonight after maintenance, but Scheifele’s status is unknown.

Connor Hellebuyck left the ice first for the Jets, he will make his 32nd start of the season tonight (21-7-3, 2.19 GAA, .924 SV%). The perennial Vezina candidate has a 3-5-0 career record against the Islanders with a 2.94 GAA and .910 SV%, most recently yielding two goals on 22 shots in defeat on Feb. 22.

Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Mathew Barzal

Pierre Engvall – Brock Nelson – Kyle Palmieri

Simon Holmstrom – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Julien Gauthier

Matt Martin – Hudson Fasching – Cal Clutterbuck

Alexander Romanov – Noah Dobson

Mike Reilly – Scott Mayfield

Adam Pelech – Sebastian Aho

Ilya Sorokin

Kenny Appleby

Nikolaj Ehlers – Adam Lowry – Gabe Vilardi

Cole Perfetti – Vladislav Namestnikov – Alex Iafallo

Nino Niederreiter – Dominic Toninato – Mason Appleton

Morgan Barron – Rasmus Kupari – Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo

Brenden Dillon – Neal Pionk

Dylan Samberg – Nate Schmidt

Connor Hellebuyck

Laurent Broissoit

The Islanders swept the Jets aside last season in two meetings, most recently earning a 4-0 victory in Winnipeg on Feb. 26. Bo Horvat opened the scoring on a shorthanded goal in the first period, with Brock Nelson and Alex Romanov adding on in the second. After keeping the Jets’ offense quiet in the third, Adam Pelech sealed the deal with an empty netter, finishing a 23-save shutout for Semyon Varlamov.

Since the Jets returned to Winnipeg, the Islanders’ have had success against them on the road. New York is 11-2-0 at Canada Life Centre since their first game there in 2011, last dropping a matchup there in Dec. 2017.

Brock Nelson remains on the verge of his 500th career NHL point, sitting at 497 entering Tuesday’s game. He could become the 13th Islanders skater to reach the milestone. He’s also riding a four-game point streak against Winnipeg, boasting three goals and two assists in that span.

Islanders’ captain Anders Lee scored his first NHL goal against the Jets, and that success has continued throughout his career. His 14 goals and 20 points against Winnipeg lead all active Islanders. Bo Horvat leads New York with eight assists against the Jets and has points in three straight matchups, totaling two goals and an assist.

The Jets saw their franchise-record winning streak end at eight on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Cam Atkinson scored two goals in as many periods to start the game, but Winnipeg didn’t go down quietly. The Jets put 36 on Samuel Ersson, but the Flyers’ goalie stopped them all in a 2-0 win.

Despite the setback, the Jets have soared to new heights after a late-season collapse last season. Winnipeg sits atop the Central Division, largely due to their defense and goaltending. Winnipeg’s 96 goals against is the fewest in the NHL.

Ehlers saw his six-game point streak snapped on Saturday night, finishing with four goals and three assists in that span. The Finnish forward is one of the Jets’ top offensive options behind Scheifele, boasting 15 goals and 18 assists, 33 points, this season.

Nino Niederreiter, a former Islanders’ draft choice, is Winnipeg’s top-performing forward against New York. His six goals against the Islanders tied with Adam Lowry for most among active Jets, but he stands alone for most assists and points with seven and 13, respectively.

The Jets enter this non-conference matchup as a considerable favorite, starting at -175 on the money line compared to the Islanders at +145. The over/under begins at six goals, the over slightly favored at -115 to the under at -105.

The Islanders-Jets matchup will air on MSGSN. On the radio, the contest is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN.