Time for Islanders to Make Statement Against Lightning, Fischler's 5 Keys

With every point critical with four games to go, the New York Islanders need to make a statement against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

With every point critical with four games to go, the New York Islanders (39-30-9) need to make a statement against the Tampa Bay Lightning (45-27-6) on Thursday night.

Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena.

The Islanders did not skate Thursday morning as we will chat with head coach Lane Lambert at 4:45 PM to get updates.

Alexander Romanov (day to day, upper body) has not skated since the Islanders last played the Lightning Saturday night in a 5-0 loss. 

Mathew Barzal (week to week, lower body) is skating on his own, but there's no timetable for when he will rejoin the team. 

Ilya Sorokin was the first netminder off the ice at Islanders practice on Wednesday, as he will likely make his 57th start of the season and his fourth straight. 

With the Lightning playing a grueling game against the New York Rangers on Wednesday, a 6-3 loss with Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes, the Islanders will face Brian Elliott. 

Elliott defeated the Islanders in Tampa earlier in the year 5-3, stopping 32 of 35, but has struggled this season with a 3.30 GAA and an .891 SV%. 

Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will skate in his 1,000th NHL game. 

1. ATTITUDE: There must be a "This is our home and we win here" feeling of impending triumph. They must think gung-ho all the way.

2. FORGET THE PAST: Granted that the Lightning have done well against the Nassaumen. But that's old business. The Bolts can be beaten.

3. THE SCORERS HAVE TO SCORE. Now is the time for Brock Nelson, Bo Horvat, Zach Parisi, and Kyle Palmieri to illuminate the red lights.

4. CAPTURE THE CROWD'S ENTHUSIASM: There going to be a rip-roaring feeling throughout the packed UBS Arena. Reward the crowds' roars.

5. GOALTENDING MUST BE AT ITS HOTTEST: Whether coach Lane Lambert starts Ilya Sorokin or Semyon Varlamov, the return must be a playoff-like winning performance.

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
Sebastian Aho-Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

Steve Stamkos-Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel-Nick Paul-Ross Colton
Patrick Maroon-Anthony Cirelli-Alex Killorn
Tanner Jeannot-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Corey Perry

Victor Hedman-Nicklaus Perbix
Mikhail Sergachev-Darren Raddysh
Ian Cole-Erik Cernak

Brian Elliott
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Tampa Bay Lightning? You can get the Islanders at -140 & +180 on the puck line. The Lightning come in at +116 & -220 on the reverse puck line.

The over for the contest is 5.5 at -124, with the under also at +102.

Lines courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook

Thursday's game 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.