Islanders at Jets
The New York Islanders visit the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday in a matchup of sub-.500 teams that missed opportunities Thursday to snap opponents’ long winning streaks. New York allowed three goals in an 80-second span of the second period in falling at Minnesota 6-4, ending the Islanders’ three-game winning streak, while the Jets could not slow down Columbus in a 5-3 home defeat.
“We have to be better in certain areas of our game, but I liked the effort,” Islanders coach Jack Capuano told reporters after the game and prior to New York placing goaltender Jaroslav Halak - who surrendered the middle period onslaught - on waivers Friday. Brock Nelson’s two third-period goals gave the Islanders at least four goals in their fourth consecutive contest, but New York could not prevent Minnesota from winning its 12th straight game. Winnipeg had won four of five entering Thursday thanks in part to better special teams play, but gave up a pair of power-play goals in failing to win three in a row for the first time this season and allowing Columbus to win its 14th consecutive game. “We need to be better, and we will be better against the Islanders, for sure,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler told reporters.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (14-15-6): The Halak transaction lessens a crowded goaltending rotation for New York as Thomas Greiss, who is 5-1 with a .929 save percentage since Nov. 28, and Jean-Francois Berube remain. The Islanders allow 3.11 goals per game, the third-worst mark in the NHL entering the weekend. Center John Tavares leads the team with 25 points but has only 10 goals after averaging 29.6 since 2009-10.
ABOUT THE JETS (17-18-3): Bryan Little and Mathieu Perreault each netted power-play goals Thursday, the first time Winnipeg scored multiple power-play markers since Dec. 1. The Jets scored three or more goals five times in their past six games, but Michael Hutchinson allowed five goals on 35 shots Thursday in his fifth start since Nov. 19. Winnipeg is last in the NHL entering Friday in faceoff win percentage (47.1 percent), but won 60 percent against Columbus.
OVERTIME
1. The Islanders are 6-0-1 in seven games in Winnipeg since the Jets moved from Atlanta in 2011.
2. Winnipeg placed F Marko Dano (lower body injury) on injured reserve Friday and recalled F Andrew Copp from Manitoba of the AHL.
3. Tavares is four points shy of 500 for his career.