EAST MEADOW, NY - After taking two of three out in California, the New York Islanders (36-27-8) host the Toronto Maple Leafs (42-18-9) Tuesday night at UBS Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET.
It’s Butch Goring Night as the Islanders continue their legends celebration amid their 50th season.
The Islanders currently hold a one-point lead over the Florida Panthers for the top wild-card spot, having played one more game. Florida faces the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night.
This game is an ESPN+/Hulu exclusive.
MORNING SKATE
It was indeed an optional, as only 12 skaters, including two goalies, took to the ice.
Ilya Sorokin was the first goaltender off the ice as he will make his fourth consecutive start with a 2.69 goals-against average with a .910 save percentage over his last three games.
Defenseman Samuel Bolduc, who was called up on Monday, returns to the lineup as he plays in place of Sebastian Aho, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury after taking a high hit from San Jose Sharks forward Kevin Labanc on Saturday night.
Bolduc will play alongside Noah Dobson as well as quarterback the second power-play unit.
“They tell me to shoot, so I'm gonna shoot as much as I can, but I'll just keep it simple, see a guy open and try to give him the pass and move the puck around as fast, as much as we can. And when you see a lane open, just take it.”
Here’s was Bolduc practicing that shot at morning skate:
The AHL All-Star has one goal, five blocks, and 13 hits in six career NHL games, averaging 15:17 minutes a night.
Josh Bailey is a healthy scratch for a third straight game and the sixth time this season.
Lambert shared that the Islanders are hopeful that Mathew Barzal can return before the end of the season. Barzal has not yet skated.
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
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS LINES (PROJECTED)
Alex Kerfoot-Auston Matthews-Mattias Jankrok
Matt Bunting-John Tavares-Mitchell Marner
Bobby McMann-Matt Lafferty-William Nylander
Zach Aston-Reece-David Kampf-Noah Acciari
Morgan Reilly-Erik Gustafsson
Mark Giordano-Justin Holl
Jae McCabe-Timothy Liljegren
Ilya Samsonov
Matt Murray
ISLANDERS NOTES
Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third and final matchup between the two clubs this season, and the Maple Leafs' first visit to UBS since January 22, 2022.The Islanders have a 6-3-1 record in their last ten games, and have captured points in five of their last six meetings against Atlantic Division opponents leading into tonight's matchup.Islanders forward Brock Nelson has recorded points in both meetings between the Islanders and Maple Leafs this season. The Islanders have a 7-3-1 record at UBS Arena since January 27, and will look to earn their 21st home-ice win of the season tonight.
FANDUEL BETTING CORNER
Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Toronto Maple Leafs? You can get the Islanders at +106 & -230 on the reverse puck line. The Leafs come in at -128 & +188 on the puck line.
The over for the contest is 5.5 at -130, with the under at +106.
Lines courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook
HOW TO WATCH
Tuesday’s contest will be available on ESPN+/Hulu. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU, and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.