Islanders at Panthers
The New York Islanders are struggling to stay out of the basement in the Metropolitan Division and one of the reasons why is their lack of success away from home. The Islanders will look to earn their first point of the season on the road when they visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday night to cap a two-game swing to the Sunshine State.
New York failed to take advantage of a favorable schedule in which it played 10 of 11 games at home prior to Thursday's 4-1 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning. It will be a rematch of sorts for the Islanders against the Panthers, who they eliminated in the playoffs last season before they were ousted by Tampa Bay. Florida won the Atlantic last season but is sitting at the bottom of the division following Thursday's 4-2 home loss to San Jose. The Panthers have 13 points through the first 14 games -- the same total they had at the 14-game mark a year ago.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus2 (New York), FSN Florida
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (5-7-2): New York is 0-4-0 on the road to start the season for the first time in franchise history and has surrendered five power-play goals in a staggering 21 chances over the four losses, including a pair against the Lightning. "It's no secret, it's the amount of penalties we've been taking," Islanders captain John Tavares said. "It's really putting us in a tough spot having to climb back into a lot of games." Tavares had a five-game point streak snapped by Tampa Bay.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (6-7-1): Florida has scored more than three goals in regulation once in its last nine games and squandered an early two-goal lead against San Jose -- its third defeat when leading after one period. "It's been a trend since early in the year and we've got to fix it soon. It's embarrassing," said defenseman Jason Demers, who scored his first two goals. "We let off the gas and let teams back in the games." Forward Jussi Jokinen was a minus-2 in his return to the lineup.
OVERTIME
1. Panthers Fs Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr are mired in 12- and 10-game goal-scoring droughts, respectively.
2. New York has earned points in five of its last six visits (3-1-2) to Florida.
3. Panthers G Roberto Luongo was 2-1-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average versus the Islanders last season.