Islanders at Hurricanes
After earning their first victory of the calendar year, the New York Islanders try to make it two in as many nights when they continue their three-game road trip Saturday against the home-dominant Carolina Hurricanes. New York went 0-1-2 over its first three contests this month before gaining a split of a home-and-home series against Florida with Friday's 5-2 triumph in the Sunshine State.
Captain John Tavares enters with a hot hand as he registered his sixth career hat trick Friday to tie Anders Lee for the team lead in goals (14) and become the 10th player in Islanders history to reach the 500-point plateau (501). New York is faced with the unenviable task of recording a regulation victory at PNC Arena - something only one of the last 15 visiting teams have accomplished. Carolina improved to 13-1-1 on home ice since falling to Anaheim on Nov. 10 by posting a 5-2 win over Buffalo on Friday. Jeff Skinner leads the Hurricanes with 35 points and has recorded two straight three-point performances, including a two-goal, one-assist effort Friday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FSN Carolinas
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (16-16-8): Tavares' hat trick moved him past Derek King (499 points) on the team's all-time scoring list and pulled him within 12 of tying Bobby Nystrom for ninth place. The 26-year-old center scored 221 career goals and needs 14 to match Nystrom for eighth in club history. Defenseman Scott Mayfield was a healthy scratch against Florida one day after being recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League to replace Travis Hamonic, who was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (20-15-7): Carolina had two players of its own reach milestones Friday as Cam Ward played in his 600th career game while Skinner reached the 300-point plateau with his first goal of the night. Ron Hainsey could hit a milestone of his own Saturday after registering his 199th assist Friday. Brock McGinn recorded his first career two-goal performance Friday and netted three in his last two games after registering one over his first 24 contests this season.
OVERTIME
1. Islanders D Nick Leddy, who scored a goal in two straight games, reached the 20-point plateau for the fourth consecutive season after notching three Friday.
2. Carolina C Elias Lindholm is riding a five-game point streak during which he has recorded two goals and four assists.
3. New York RW Cal Clutterbuck is one goal shy of 100 for his career while LW Josh Bailey is two away from the century mark.