Horvat Back In Vancouver, Islanders Face Canucks After Consecutive Overtime Losses
After stealing a point against the Edmonton Oilers, the Islanders look to extend thier point streak to five games in Vancouver.
After dropping the first game of their Western Canada road trip, the New York Islanders (6-6-4) face the Vancouver Canucks (8-3-3) at Rogers Arena. Puck drop is at 10:00, and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders were swept by the Canucks in their season series last season. The team dropped Bo Horvat’s return to Rogers Arena in overtime last November and fell in their matchup at UBS Arena in January.
Prior to Thursday’s game, defenseman Mike Reilly was placed on long-term injured reserve, Travis Mitchell was called up to replace him but will not play tonight.
Alexander Romanov remains day-to-day but skated, yet again, in a non-contact jersey.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Lee-Horvat-Pageau
Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri
Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom
Martin-MacLean-Wahlstrom
George-Dobson
Pulock-Mayfield
Cholowskk-Hutton
Varlamov
Sorokin
Listen to Stefen Rosner’s pregame:
WHO’S HOT:
Anders Lee scored twice in the third period of Tuesday’s game, giving him six for the season. Since being put together with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Horvat, he has three goals and five assists for eight points in six games.
Kyle Palmieri had a goal and assist against the Oilers, taking back the team lead in goals with seven. He also broke a tie with Horvat for most points on the team, boasting 14 this season.
Brock Nelson has been sensational against the Canucks in his career. He has points in 10-straight games against them dating back to Nov. 13, 2018. In that span, he has eight goals and six assists for 14 points.
Nelson’s 10 goals and 18 assists against Vancouver lead active Islanders in each category. He is tied with Lee for the most assists against the Canucks with eight.
Semyon Varlamov, who will start for the Islanders, has stopped 52 of the last 55 shots that have come his way. He is 7-12-2, with a 2.96 GAA and a .900 SV% in 21 career starts against Vancouver.
OPPONENT’S NOTES:
Jake DeBrusk, one of the Canucks’ big offseason adds, has a five-game point streak entering Thursday’s game. The former Boston Bruin has three goals and two assists in that span.
Quinn Hughes has also been hot as of late for the Canucks. The reigning Norris Trophy winner has recorded a point in all but three of his games this season, including a point in five straight games. He has a goal and seven assists for eight points in that span.
In addition to his recent success, Hughes has tallied a point in every game against the Islanders. In seven games, he has four goals and eight assists for 12 points.
Hughes was tied with J.T. Miller for the lead in scoring against New York, tallying two goals and two assists for four points. Miller has points in five straight games against the Islanders, totaling two goals and five assists for seven points in five games. The former New York Ranger is also the Cancuks’ leading scorer across the board against the Islanders, tallying nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 32 games.
Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver’s starter, is coming off a tremendous bounce-back performance, stopping 27 of 28 in a 3-1 against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday after allowing seven goals on 26 shots in a 7-3 loss against the Edmonton Oilers in the game prior. He is 1-1-0 in two career starts against the Islanders, sporting a 1.02 GAA with a .974 SV%.
PREGAME READING:
Islanders Injuries, Their Timeline & Return Eligibility - THN
Tsyplakov Is A No-Doubt NHLer; Roy On What He Told Newest Islanders Forward In Recruitment Meeting - THN
Lou Lamoriello & Brian Burke Spill Some Beans About Each Other On NHL Network - THN
Vancouver Canucks Lines From Last Game
Islanders Community:
Complimentary Parking!
Once again for the 2024-25 season, those that drive a BMW can receive complimentary single-game parking in the Emerald Parking lot.
Please click the BMW | Islanders image below for parking registration information,
