Hurricanes at Islanders
The New York Islanders were challenging for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division less than a month ago before a season-worst slump but are now trying to hold onto the final wild card in the wake of a five-game slide (0-3-2). The Islanders will also try to halt a three-game skid at home when they host the slumping Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.
Typically among the league's better defensive clubs, New York has been pierced for 14 goals while dropping its last three games in regulation. “We need all the points right now and we need to find our game as fast as we can," center Jean-Gabriel Pageau said after the Islanders allowed three unanswered goals in Thursday's 4-3 loss at Ottawa. "I think we need more urgency in our game.” The same holds true for the Hurricanes, who are three points behind New York after extending their losing streak to four in Thursday's 4-1 setback at Philadelphia. "We've got to be better,” Carolina captain Jordan Staal said. “We need the whole team ready to go and engaged right from the start. ... We haven't showed that yet or in a long time. It's not good enough."
TIME: 1 p.m. ET. TV: MSG-Plus, FS Carolinas
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (35-25-5): Carolina has dropped the first two legs of the six-game road trip and has lost all four games since goaltenders Petr Mrazek and James Reimer were injured in a 6-3 loss at Toronto on Feb. 22. Mrazek was cleared from the concussion protocol Thursday and joined the team at practice Friday, but coach Rod Brind'Amour wants to see his top netminder go through a full practice before returning to the lineup. Defenseman Sami Vatanen did not practice Friday and is "further away" from playing, Brind'Amour said.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (35-23-8): New York, which suffered its first regulation road loss (34-1-1) under coach Barry Trotz when scoring at least three goals, has surrendered three short-handed tallies over the past two games. Mathew Barzal scored one goal and set up two others to reach 40 assists, joining Josh Bailey as the only Islander to collect 40 in three consecutive seasons in this century. Barzal also needs one point to become the second-youngest player in franchise history (Bryan Trottier) with three straight seasons of at least 60.
OVERTIME
1. Carolina has won seven in a row in the series, including a four-game sweep in last season's playoffs.
2. Islanders captain Anders Lee, who reached 20 goals for the fifth time, has eight tallies and 18 points in 22 games versus Carolina.
3. Hurricanes D Brett Pesce underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, the team announced Thursday.