Predators at Islanders
The New York Islanders traditionally have given their fans a thrill during their home openers over the years, posting a 27-12-6 all-time mark while collecting at least a point in each of their last five (3-0-2). The Islanders aim to continue both trends as well as their dominance of the Nashville Predators on Saturday when the clubs meet at Barclays Center.
With the former face of the franchise now playing in Toronto (John Tavares), reigning Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal stepped up by threading a pass to Josh Bailey for the game-winning goal as the Islanders handed new coach Barry Trotz his first victory with the Thursday's in a 2-1 victory over Carolina. "Bailey is an undercover goal scorer. He doesn't get enough credit for that. He's got a good one-timer," Barzal said of the longest-tenured Islander. Nashville got off on the right foot after capturing the Presidents' Trophy with 117 points last season, with P.K. Subban scoring the eventual winning goal in a 3-2 triumph over the New York Rangers on Thursday. "Every time you start the season, you always feel butterflies and you are a little nervous before the game. It was a good game for us," said reigning Vezina Trophy recipient Pekka Rinne, who finished with 34 saves.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), MSG-Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (1-0-0): Filip Forsberg, who averaged nearly a point per game last season, picked up where left off by unleashing a wicked wrist shot to open the scoring in the second period against the Rangers. "I don't know that we marvel anymore, we expect him to do it," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said with a smile. "He's a terrific player. He's a guy that if he gets a chance, he can make a difference in a game." The Islanders know that all too well, as the 24-year-old Swede scored in his lone meeting with the team last season and has six points (three goals, three assists) in eight career matchups.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (1-0-0): While Barzal and Bailey were credited with the final salvo, Thomas Greiss kept New York afloat by turning aside 45 of 46 shots in the season opener. "(Greiss) stood on his head. He made some huge saves for us late in the game," Barzal said. "We were lucky to get those two points and he was the first star of the night, for sure." Greiss resides one win shy of 100, although he owns just a 3-4-0 mark with a 2.97 goals-against average in eight career appearances versus Nashville.
OVERTIME
1. While New York owns a 6-2-1 mark versus Nashville in the last nine encounters, the road team has skated away with the victory in each of the last four.
2. Predators LW Kevin Fiala score twice in his team's 5-4 overtime win over the Islanders on Feb. 5.
3. New York RW Jordan Eberle scored two goals and set up another in a 6-2 triumph over Nashville on Oct. 28.