Game Preview: Islanders Likely Without Romanov vs. Blue Jackets

Islanders conclude weekday back-to-back against Columbus.

, and

Oct 30, 2024

Following a split of a weekend back-to-back, the New York Islanders (3-4-2) conclude a weekday back-to-back against the Columbus Blue Jackets (4-3-1). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.

The Islanders managed a sweep of Columbus last season, winning all three matchups by multiple goals. New York shut out the Blue Jackets 2-0 in their first meeting last October, routed them at UBS Arena in December, and finished a sweep with a 4-2 win in April.

However, tonight will also be a bittersweet night for several Islanders players, as Wednesday marks their first meeting against Columbus since Johnny Gaudreau's passing. Anders Lee and Brock Nelson were among his teammates in previous International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships.

WHERE THEY STAND:

The Blue Jackets shot the cannon six times in a blowout win over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. Columbus exploded for three goals in the first period, with Sean Monahan, Adam Fantilli, and Cole Sillinger lighting the lamp. Mathieu Olivier added a goal in the second, and Mikael Pyyhtia and Monahan added more in the third to make it 6-0 late in the third period. Mattias Ekholm broke the shutout with 27 seconds left, but the Blue Jackets cruised to the 6-1 win.

The Islanders were unable to save Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal in their loss on Tuesday. Anaheim got a pair of timely goals on the power play from Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry to make it 2-0 Ducks after 40 minutes of play. Mathew Barzal got the Islanders on the board in the third on a five-on-three advantage, but that was the lone blemish on Dostal’s night. He finished the affair with 40 saves, allowing Frank Vatrano to seal the deal on an empty netter and give the Ducks a 3-1 win.

OPPONENT LAST GAME: Oilers 1, Blue Jackets 6

ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:

Holmstrom-Horvat-Barzal

Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri

Lee-Pageau-Cizikas

Martin-MacLean-Fasching

Reilly-Dobson

Pelech-Pulock

Cholowski-Mayfield

Varlamov

Sorokin

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Blue Jackets Top Line vs Semyon Varlamov

The Blue Jackets players to watch are their three top forwards: Yegor Chinakov, Monahan, and Kirill Marchenko. Chinakov is playing at a point-per-game rate thus far this season, totaling three goals and five assists for eight points. After his two-goal game on Monday, Monahan now boasts five goals and four assists for nine points. However, Marchenko has been the revelation for the Blue Jackets, recording points in all but two games this season for the club. All told, he has four goals and seven assists for 11 points, including two helpers on Monday.

They will be going up against Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov, who has been successful against Columbus in his career. In eight matchups against the Blue Jackets, he is 11-5-2 with a 2.18 GAA and .937 SV%, in addition to four shutouts. He earned the win in his last outing against them with 32 saves on 35 shots on Dec. 7. Given his struggles to start the season, Wednesday’s game serves as a good opportunity to get back on track.

WHO IS HOT:

Barzal and Bo Horvat connected on their lone goal on Tuesday, and the two each had strong performances against the Blue Jackets last season. Barzal had two goals and four assists for six points in the three games, including a four-point night on Dec. 7. Horvat had three goals and a helper in their season series, including a three-point night in that same game.

Kyle Palmieri scored an empty-net goal in their last matchup, giving him a four-game goal streak against Columbus. He also has a pair of assists, totaling six points in a point streak.

Nelson leads active Islanders in career goals against the Blue Jackets with 13 in 38 games. Barzal leads rostered Islanders in assists and points against them with 15 and 23, respectively.

OPPONENT NOTES:

After starting out cold this season, Olivier has heated up for the Blue Jackets lately. The forward has a three-game point streak and points in four of his last five games, totaling four goals and two assists in the latter stretch.

Zach Werenski is also playing well for Columbus this season, totaling three goals and five assists for eight points in eight games. He enters Wednesday’s game on a three-game point streak with a goal and three assists in that span, plus a goal and four assists in his last five contests overall.

James van Riemsdyk leads Columbus across the board in lifetime scoring against the Islanders. The veteran forward has 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points in 54 career games against them.

Elvis Merzlikins will get the start for the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. In four career matchups with the Islanders, he is 1-3-0 with a 3.08 GAA and .906 SV%. His last start against them was on March 31, 2022, where he allowed four goals on 35 shots in a loss.

PREGAME READING