Flyers at Islanders
The New York Islanders attempt to extend their point streak to five games when they host the Metropolitan Division-rival Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. New York is coming off a 5-2 triumph at Ottawa on Friday in which it erased a 2-1 deficit with four unanswered goals, including three in the third period.
The Islanders hope John Tavares is beginning to heat up as the captain ended his six-game goal-scoring drought and added an assist against the Senators for his eighth multi-point performance of the season and first since Dec. 29 at Toronto. New York has not gone without a point since Jan. 9, when it dropped a 4-0 decision at Philadelphia. The Flyers, who have lost two straight contests following a six-game point streak (5-0-1), look for Claude Giroux to continue his strong play as the captain has collected two goals and five assists over his last five games. Philadelphia's triumph earlier this month was its first of the season over New York, which posted two victories over the Flyers in a span of two weeks bridging November and December.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TCN (Philadelphia), MSG Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE FLYERS (20-17-8): Philadelphia could have Sean Couturier back in the lineup after the center sat out Thursday's loss at Pittsburgh with a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old needs one goal to reach double digits and six to match his career high set last season. Jakub Voracek has scored two of his six goals on the season over his last five games, adding five assists during that stretch.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (25-15-6): Tavares isn't the only Islander showing signs of breaking out of a scoring slump as Kyle Okposo notched a goal and an assist Friday after tallying in only three of his previous 18 games. The former first-round draft pick has been a thorn in Philadelphia's side this season, scoring the winning goal on Nov. 25 and the decisive shootout tally on Dec. 8. Mikhail Grabovski, a three-time 20-goal scorer has recorded six in 46 games this season and one over his last 19 contests.
OVERTIME
1. Islanders C Frans Nielsen needs one power-play goal to match his career high of five, which he set in 2011-12 and equaled two seasons later.
2. Philadelphia has outscored its opponents 8-2 in the third period over its last six games.
3. Thomas Greiss is likely to start in net for New York after Jaroslav Halak posted the victory Friday.