Avalanche at Islanders
The New York Islanders may not be winning in dominating fashion but they continue to pile up points as they maintain their slim edge for first place in the Metropolitan Division. New York, which has not lost consecutive games in regulation in more than two months, will host the slumping Colorado Avalanche on Saturday afternoon in the front end of a back-to-back.
The Islanders have earned points in 16 of their last 19 (14-3-2) even though they have produced only eight goals over the past five games. "Obviously it's going through a little bit of a lull," forward Matt Martin said. "These stretches happen to every team through the season." The Avalanche, stuck in a two-month rut, have lost five in a row (0-4-1) despite rallying for a pair of third-period goals in Thursday's 4-3 overtime defeat at Washington. "It is definitely a big point to get, it is also a big point to lose," coach Jared Bednar said. "It is definitely something to build on I think and it should give our team a little confidence."
TV: 1 p.m. ET; Altitude (Colorado), MSG-Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (22-22-9): Colorado's No. 1 line again led the way against Washington as Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon each scored goals and captain Gabriel Landeskog collected a pair of assists, but keeping the puck out of its own net has been the issue. The Avalanche have been torched for 24 goals during the five-game skid and have held only one opponent to fewer than three tallies in the last 10. "Obviously, everything is magnified when you lose," MacKinnon said. "When you win, those mistakes kind of get covered up and you don't really see them in video or things like that."
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (31-16-6): Forward Andrew Ladd and defenseman Thomas Hickey are both practicing following lengthy injury absences, and coach Barry Trotz said Friday that Hickey -- out since Dec. 17 -- is closer to rejoining the lineup. "We haven't had a lot of practices. Right now, we're healthy and taking our time," Trotz said. "I think it's best for everybody involved. But he's getting really close here." Forward Cal Clutterbuck exited Thursday's 2-1 shootout win at New Jersey in the second period with an undisclosed injury and did not practice Friday, but Trotz said it was not serious.
OVERTIME
1. Islanders G Robin Lehner is 12-2-1 with a 1.44 goals-against average in his last 15 decisions.
2. Landeskog and Rantanen each need three points to reach 400 and 200, respectively, for their careers.
3. Islanders C Mathew Barzal had points in three straight games and three goals in his last five.