Islanders at Red Wings
Captain John Tavares could be suiting up in a New York Islanders' uniform for the final time on Saturday night as the team visits the Detroit Red Wings in the season finale for both clubs. Tavares, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has a team high-tying 83 points this season and 620 since being selected by New York with the top overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.
"I'm not trying to look at it as the end because, obviously, that hasn't been determined. I've always wanted it to work out and stay, so that's still what I hope transpires," Tavares said. The 27-year-old was held off the scoresheet for just the second time in 11 outings in Thursday's 2-1 triumph over the New York Rangers, but he has flustered Detroit with a pair of two-assist performances this season. While the Islanders have registered consecutive wins following losses in 16 of their previous 19, the reeling Red Wings have dropped 15 of their last 19 as they prepare to miss the playoffs for the second straight season after earning a spot on 25 consecutive occasions. "We've found ways to lose too many times this year," Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said following Thursday's 4-3 loss to Montreal. "It's just not acceptable that we didn't close out more games."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus-2 (New York), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (34-37-10): Anthony Beauvillier is riding high with a five-game goal-scoring streak while 17 of his 21 tallies this season have come since New Year's Day. Fellow 20-year-old Mathew Barzal is the odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy, as he leads all NHL rookies in points (83), assists (61), power-play assists (21) and power-play points (26). Six of Barzal's 61 assists came at the expense of the Red Wings, with five paving the way for an epic third-period comeback as the Islanders skated to a 7-6 win on Feb. 9.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (30-39-12): Dylan Larkin, who leads the team in assists (47) and points (62), has scored three goals and set up five others during his current five-game point streak. Larkin has lit up the Islanders with four assists this season while Anthony Mantha has three of his team-leading 24 goals versus the club. Mantha has just one tally in his last 15 contests, however, heading into his 150th career game on Saturday.
OVERTIME
1. New York, which has scored 14 power-play goals in its last 11 outings, tallied four times during a five-minute man advantage in the third period on Feb. 9.
2. Detroit G Jimmy Howard owns a 15-13-6 mark at home, with his most recent showing resulting in his lone shutout of the season.
3. Islanders G Jaroslav Halak, who picked up the win in relief versus the Red Wings earlier this season, is expected to play in his 450th career game on Saturday.