Islanders Face Utah Hockey Club In Inaugural Visit To Delta Center: Lines & Notes
The Islanders are looking for their third win in a row.
After a dominating performance over the Vegas Golden Knights, the New York Islanders (16-18-7) make their first trip to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Hockey Club (18-16-7).
Puck drop at Delta Center is scheduled for 9:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The last time the two teams met was on Oct. 10 in the Islanders’ first game of the season, with Utah picking up a 5-4 overtime victory. In a game that was tied four times, the Islanders let Maxim Tsyplakov’s first NHL goal go for naught, with Josh Doan forcing overtime and Dylan Guenther winning the game in the extra session.
LINEUP UPDATES:
Ilya Sorokin won’t play due to illness, as Marcus Hogberg will make his second start of the season and fourth appearance. He’s stopped 55 of 58 shots he’s faced, including making 38 saves on 41 shots in their 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 29.
Jakub Skarek has been recalled on an emergency basis to back up Hogberg.
Defenseman Alexander Romanov, who was a game-time decision, will not play. Grant Hutton slots in.
Forward Simon Holmstrom was placed on IR on Tuesday. Isaiah George remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury, along with Hudson Fasching. All three didn’t travel.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Lee-Nelson-Barzal
Duclair-Horvat-Palmieri
Tsyplakov-Pageau-Cizikas
Martin-MacLean-Engvall
Dobson-Mayfield
Pelech-Pulock
Cholowski-Hutton
Hogberg
Skarek
Who’s Hot:
Brock Nelson broke his long scoring drought in Vegas on Thursday. He recorded a goal and assist for two points in the win. The forward is one red light away from tying Brent Sutter and Pat LaFontaine for fifth in the franchise’s all-time goals list with 287.
Mathew Barzal has an assist in each of his last four games entering Saturday’s game. He is one helper shy of tying Sutter for ninth all-time in assists for the Islanders with 323.
Anders Lee and Bo Horvat each have three goals over their last two games, with both lighting the lamp twice against the Boston Bruins on Sunday in addition to goals against the Golden Knights. Lee’s next goal will give him his ninth season with 20 goals, becoming only the fifth Islander to accomplish the milestone.
Opponents Notes:
Utah will be without Guenther for Saturday night’s game. The forward was placed on IR on Friday with a lower-body injury. Josh Doan, who scored the last time the teams met, was recalled from AHL Tuscon on Friday.
Utah will play on the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday, defeating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in the front end on Friday. Barrett Hayton scored the game-winner with just over 90 seconds remaining in regulation, capping off a comeback win.
Four other players had two-point games for Utah in their first meeting with the Islanders. Lawson Crouse had a goal and assist, with Clayton Keller, Mikhail Sergachev, and Logan Cooley each adding two assists. As of late, Keller has been scorching hot for Utah, putting up five goals and nine assists for 14 points in his last 10 games.
Nick Bjugstad leads Utah players in goals against New York with seven in 20 career matchups, and Sergachev has the most career assists against the Islanders among Utah players with eight assists. Both are tied for the lead in total points against the Islanders with 11.
Karel Vejmelka started for Utah against the San Jose Sharks on Friday, making Connor Ingram probable to start the second game of the back-to-back. Saturday marks his first start since Nov. 18, where he let up four goals on 13 shots in a loss to the Washington Capitals; the netminder is returning from an upper-body injury. Against the Islanders, he is 1-1-0 with a 4.42 GAA and .845 SV%, earning the win in their last meeting with 23 saves on 27 shots.
Utah Hockey Club Latest Lines:
NOTES: Ingram will start.
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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,
Need more goals from everyone on the team, there is no help coming. If you intend to sign Nelson I don’t have a problem with that. 3 x 7 However you have to double dip and trade him for assets, then sign him as a free agent.
Hogberg comes up Big. Should feel comfortable starting any of the three goalies.