Islanders Host Blue Jackets With Both Teams In Wild Card Chase: Lines & Notes
Adam Boqvist is playing wing, with Hudson Fasching out sick.
ELMONT, NY — After letting a point slip away on Saturday, the New York Islanders (32-28-9) face the Columbus Blue Jackets (31-29-9) in a key matinee matchup for the Eastern Conference Wild Card race.
Puck drop at UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30, and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders and Blue Jackets last played each other on Jan. 20, with the Islanders picking up a 3-1 win. Three goals in the second period were enough to put New York in the win column, with Bo Horvat scoring bookend goals.
Columbus enters Monday four games out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders remain two points out after the Montreal Canadiens and New York lost in a shootout and overtime, respectively.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Holmstrom-Horvat-Palmieri
Lee-Pageau-Duclair
Engvall-Cizikas-Boqvist
Tsyplakov-MacLean-Gatcomb
Romanov-DeAngelo
Pelech-Dobson
Reilly-Pulock
Sorokin
Hogberg
Who’s Hot:
Simon Holmstrom has a four-game point streak after an assist on Bo Horvat’s goal on Saturday. The forward has three goals and an assist for four points in that span. After his goal, Horvat has points in three straight games, notching three goals and a helper.
Defenseman Noah Dobson has a four-game point streak after recording a pair of helpers in back-to-back games. He has two goals and five assists for seven points in that span.
Horvat leads the Islanders in goals against the Blue Jackets, boasting 12 in 21 career games after the pair in his last matchup. Anthony Duclair leads New York in assists and points against Columbus, boasting 16 and 23, respectively.
After getting Saturday’s game off, Ilya Sorokin will return to the crease for the Islanders on Monday. He picked up the win against the Canadiens with 38 saves on 41 shots. Against Columbus, he is 6-0-2 with a 2.12 GAA and .920 SV%, most recently making 25 saves on 26 shots in a win in their last meeting.
Opponents Notes:
Columbus enters Monday’s game on a six-game losing streak. In that span, they’ve mustered a total of seven goals, including three shutouts.
After missing their first two matchups of the season, captain Boone Jenner will face the Islanders for the first time this season. He got his first goal of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
The Blue Jackets will also get two key pieces back in the lineup on Monday. Defenseman Erik Gudbranson and center Sean Monahan are projected to return from injury. Monahan is a key piece to Columbus’ offense, notching 14 goals and 27 for 41 points in 41 games.
James van Riemsdyk leads the Blue Jackets in scoring across the board against the Islanders. In 56 career games, he has 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points.
BLUE JACKETS LINES:
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,
That Boqvist slots in instead of Martin really tells you something.