Canadiens at Islanders
The reeling New York Islanders will make their lone appearance at the Barclays Center during an eight-game stretch on Friday when they play the back end of a home-and-home series versus the Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders have seen their offense dry up in back-to-back outings while their losing skid extended to four games (0-3-1) with Wednesday's 3-1 setback to the Canadiens.
Speedy Mathew Barzal got New York off on the right foot by breezing past fellow rookie Noah Juulsen to open the scoring 3:50 into the contest, but the team failed to solve Antti Niemi again and fell for the 10th time in its last 14 contests (4-8-2). "We can't capitalize on our chances right now. It's frustrating, but the chances were there," the 20-year-old said despite scoring against Montreal for the second time this season and increasing his NHL-best rookie point total to 67. Speaking of Niemi, the 34-year-old Finn improved his save percentage to .929 in his past 10 games after turning aside 27 shots on Wednesday. "I felt good in practice and games for the last little while. I just want to keep it going," Niemi said. "I think overall just being here for a longer time has helped me get comfortable, and working with (goaltending coach) Stephane Waite and all the players, too."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (24-29-10): Jonathan Drouin hasn't yet had quite the impact Montreal had hoped when it acquired the 22-year-old Quebec native from Tampa Bay last summer, but he has flustered New York this season. Drouin scored in the Canadiens' 5-4 overtime loss to the Islanders on Jan. 15 and added two more points on Wednesday with an assist on Paul Byron's goal in the first period before netting the eventual game-winner on the power play in the second. Drouin's 32 points are just five shy of captain Max Pacioretty, who has been held off the scoresheet in seven of his last 10 outings.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (29-28-7): Coach Doug Weight had no issue juggling lines toward the end of Wednesday's tilt, and those changes were kept in play on Thursday as Josh Bailey was paired with Brock Nelson and Andrew Ladd while Tanner Fritz practiced alongside captain John Tavares and Anders Lee. "A little change is good," Weight said. "(Johnny's line) had some really good chances early and just need a little switch up and I think it's good for all involved. I like Brock and Bails in the third and Ladder was visible and made some plays. We have to get guys going." Jordan Eberle, who assisted on Barzal's goal, is questionable to play in the rematch after he left Thursday's practice with general soreness.
OVERTIME
1. Tavares has been held off the scoresheet in four straight games, one shy of his season-high drought set from Oct. 9-19.
2. Montreal takes a 2-0-3 mark in its last five contests into Friday's opener of a six-game road trip that spans 12 days.
3. The Islanders had won six in a row at home versus the Canadiens prior to the latter's 3-1 win on Jan. 26, 2017.