After stunning the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, the New York Islanders (37-27-8) battle the Columbus Blue Jackets (22-41-7) Friday night. Puck drop is slated for 7 PM ET at Nationwide Arena. 

Currently sitting two points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Islanders have the opportunity to pad their lead in the wild-card race. 

Islanders Wild-Card Update: Penguins, Panthers Fall in Regulation

This is the first of a back-to-back for the Islanders, as they host the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night at 5 PM ET, owning a  7-6-1 on the front ends this season. 

MORNING SKATE

The Islanders held a very optional morning skate as Josh Bailey, Ross Johnston and Parker Wotherspoon shot on netminder Semyon Varlamov. 

It appears that Ilya Sorokin will get the nod as he is 3-0-0 against Columbus this season with a 1.99 GAA and a .921 SV%. 

Brock Nelson did speak to the media which means that he won't miss a game after suffering an upper-body injury on Tuesday. 

Josh Bailey is a healthy scratch for a fourth straight game and the seventh time this season.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED)

Anders Lee-Bo Horvat-Simon Holmstrom
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Zach-Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS LINES (PROJECTED)

Johnny Gaudreau-Boone Jenner-Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson-Jack Roslovic-Liam Foody
Eric Robinson-Sean Kuraly-Mathieu Olivier
Lane Pederson-Hunter McKown-Emil Bemstrom

Nick Blankenburg-Erik Gudbranson
Tim Bernie-Andrew Peeke
Gavin Bayreuther-Adam Boqvist

Michael Hutchinson
Elvis Merzlikins

ISLANDERS NOTES

Tonight is the fourth and final meeting between the two clubs this season. 

The last time these teams met was December 29, 2022, at UBS Arena, when Jean-Gabriel Pageau tallied a goal and an assist in a 2-1 Islander win. 

The Islanders have won each of their last six games against the Blue Jackets and are 8-1-1 in their last ten against them. The Islanders improved to 7-2-1 with their win on Tuesday night, scoring a season-high seven goals against the Toronto Maple Leafs to earn their third straight victory (via New York Islanders). 

FANDUEL BETTING CORNER

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Columbus Blue Jackets? You can get the Islanders at -215 & +116 on the puck line. The Blue Jackets come in at +176 & -140 on the reverse puck line.

The over for the contest is 6.5 at -110, with the under also at -110. 

Lines courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook

HOW TO WATCH

Friday's contest will be available on MSGSN. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU, and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.