Islanders at Predators
The New York Islanders look to avenge their worst loss of the season when they open a four-game road trip against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. The Islanders surrendered seven unanswered goals en route to an 8-3 setback to the Predators on Dec. 17 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.
New York, in fact, has lost all three encounters against Nashville under the watch of head coach Barry Trotz, who served as the Predators' bench boss from the team's first season in the NHL in 1998-99 to 2013-14. Trotz's current charges enter their next tilt with momentum, as the Islanders overcame squandering a three-goal lead to record a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday. While New York sports a 5-1-2 record in its last eight games overall and an 8-4-1 mark in its last 13 road contests, Nashville is returning home after dropping the last two contests on a four-game trek through Canada. "These are big games, but to have no emotion in the first period and playing the game at the hardness you need to play with this time of year is something that we got to figure out why," Predators coach John Hynes said.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: MSG-Plus 2, FS Tennessee
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (33-16-6): Brock Nelson, who has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his last dozen games, ignited New York's three-goal outburst early in the second period before the bottom fell out in Nashville. Derick Brassard also tallied versus the Predators and has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five contests. Casey Cizikas, who capped the three-goal surge against Nashville, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and is expected to miss three-to-four weeks with a leg injury.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (26-22-7): Mikael Granlund has found his scoring touch by netting his sixth goal in 10 games in Monday's 6-3 setback versus Vancouver after mustering just seven tallies in his previous 39 contests. Craig Smith, who has scored in back-to-back games, joined Calle Jarnkrok in recording a three-point performance against the Islanders. Captain Roman Josi tallied in the first meeting with New York and carries a three-game assist streak (four total) into the rematch.
OVERTIME
1. New York C Mathew Barzal has set up four goals in his last two games to boost his team-leading totals in assists (30) and points (48).
2. Predators G Pekka Rinne owns a 6-3-2 record with one shutout in 11 career encounters with the Islanders.
3. The Islanders sport a 6-3-0 record against Central Division foes while the Predators are 7-3-0 versus Metropolitan rivals.