Islanders Finish 2024-25 Season Against Blue Jackets: Lines & Notes
Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock will not play, along with Alexander Romanov.
With one more game on the docket, the New York Islanders (35-34-12) conclude the 2024-25 season against the Columbus Blue Jackets (39-33-9).
Puck drop at Nationwide Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Blue Jackets beat the Islanders twice in their three prior matchups this season, most recently picking up a 4-3 shootout win on March 24. Columbus rallied back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits in the win, and Adam Fantilli scored the shootout winner after a controversial no-goal call against Kyle Palmieri.
Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock won’t play, not due to injury. Alexander Romanov will miss his second straight game due to illness. Hogberg will start.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Lee-Horvat-Palmieri
Tsyplakov-Pageau-Holmstrom
Engvall-Cizikas-Fasching
Martin-MacLean-Gatcomb
Dobson-Mayfield
Perunovich-DeAngelo
Reilly-Boqvist
Hogberg
Sorokin
Who’s Hot:
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the Islanders’ lone goal on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. His 14 goals this season are tied for the second-most in his career with New York, while his 42 points are the most in his Islanders tenure and one off from his career-high 43.
Bo Horvat leads the Islanders in total points against Columbus this season, notching two goals and an assist for three points. He had two goals in their matchup on Jan. 20. Horvat also leads the Islanders in career goals against the Blue Jackets with 12 in 22 games.
Anders Lee remains one goal away from his third-career season of 30 goals. He last reached the milestone in 2017-18, scoring 40 goals. He has 11 goals in 39 games against Columbus, including a team-best 12 assists and 23 points.
Marcus Hogberg will start Thursday’s game for New York. He last started on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, allowing three goals on 22 shots in a shootout loss. Against Columbus, he is 0-1-1 in two career matchups, with a 3.88 GAA and a .901 SV%. Most recently, he allowed four goals on 45 shots in an overtime loss on February 24, 2020.
OPPONENTS NOTES:
Columbus was eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention on Thursday following the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sean Monahan was a catalyst to their late postseason push, entering play on a five-game point streak. The forward has two goals and five assists for seven points in that span. Kent Johnson also has points in five straight games, matching Monahan’s performance
Zach Werenski returned to elite form at the blue line for Columbus this season. In a career year, he has 22 goals and 58 assists for 80 points in 80 games, in addition to a five-game point streak with two goals and four assists during that span.
Adam Fantilli hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career on Tuesday. The former third-overall pick has five goals in his last three games, as well as 30 goals and 23 assists for 53 points in his first full season in the NHL.
James van Riemsdyk leads the Blue Jackets in scoring against New York. The forward has 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points in 57 games.
Jet Greaves will start Thursday’s finale for the Blue Jackets. The netminder has been the hot hand for Columbus, winning his last four starts and pitching a 29-save shutout on Tuesday. He faced the Islanders once previously, allowing one goal on 25 shots in a relief effort loss on April 4, 2024.
BLUE JACKETS LINES:
Jenner-Monahan-Marchenko
JVR-Fantilli-Johnson
Voronkov-Sillinger-Olivier
Kuraly-Williams-Danforth
Werenski-Fabbro
Mateychuk-Provorov
Harris-Gudbranson
Greaves
Merzlikins
NOTES: Jack Williams will make his NHL debut
Complimentary Parking!
Once again for the 2024-25 season, those who 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.
