Blue Jackets at Islanders
The New York Islanders' path toward their first division title since the 1987-88 season has taken a slight detour with six losses in their last 10 contests (4-5-1). The Islanders bid to get back on track and continue their dominance of the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday when the Metropolitan Division rivals reconvene at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
"It's not something we're taking lightly," New York captain Anders Lee told reporters. "It's a rough patch ... and we just have to find a way to regroup. We have a huge one on Monday." Lee has just two of his team-leading 23 goals to serve as his lone points in his last eight games, although the 28-year-old scored in the Islanders' 3-2 triumph over Columbus on Dec. 1 as the team improved to 10-1-4 in their last 15 home games versus the Blue Jackets. While New York is keeping its eyes on Washington atop the Metro, Columbus salvaged a split of its home-and-home series with Pittsburgh to move back into the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. "It's good to see we can play like that because I'm sure everyone was wondering what was going on. But it can't be a fluke, it can't be a one-and-done so we have to continue," said Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson, who scored twice in Saturday's 4-1 win to push his team-leading goal total to a career-high 38.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), MSG Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (38-27-3): Columbus has struggled to find chemistry since its bevy of high-profile deals prior to the NHL trade deadline, however new acquisition Matt Duchene believes the wheels are in motion. "We were a little bit looser," the 28-year-old Duchene told reporters. "It starts with the guys that do that, and then the rest of the team is loose with us, and I thought our guys were making plays." Duchene, who recorded his first point in five games with an assist on Saturday, scored a goal for Ottawa in a 6-3 setback to the Islanders on Dec. 28.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (39-22-7): New York has enjoyed consistency in the crease for much of the season, with the team changing goaltenders just four times in its first 64 games before shuffling netminders in three of the last four. Although Thomas Greiss received an early exit after yielding five goals on 15 shots on Saturday, the 33-year-old German has flustered Columbus by turning aside 59 of 61 shots this season - including all 31 that came his way in a 3-0 win on Feb. 14. Casey Cizikas scored on a pair of breakaways in that contest and has three of his career-high 19 goals this season versus the Blue Jackets.
OVERTIME
1. New York D Johnny Boychuk was deemed "very questionable" by coach Barry Trotz to face Columbus after he was injured on a high hit from Flyers RW Jakub Voracek in Saturday's game.
2. Blue Jackets LW Artemi Panarin, who leads the team in assists (48) and points (73), has been held off the scoresheet in four of his last five games.
3. New York is mired in an 0-for-18 stretch on the power play in the last eight contests overall and 4-for-45 run at the Nassau Coliseum.