Islanders Visit Lightning To Kick Off Pivotal Back-To-Back: Lines & Notes
Adam Boqvist returns to the defense for Mike Reilly.
After a disappointing ending to their homestand, the New York Islanders (32-29-10) start a vital road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning (42-25-5). It is the first of a back-to-back, as they’ll travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes at 5 PM ET on Sunday.
Puck drop at Amalie Arena is scheduled for a tad after 2 PM ET, and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders and Lightning last met on Feb. 1 in a 3-2 overtime final in Tampa Bay. After the Lightning got a late goal to tie it in the third period, Tony DeAngelo’s first goal with the Islanders won the game in the extra session.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Holmstrom-Horvat-Palmieri
Lee-Pageau-Duclair
Engvall-Cizikas-Fasching
Tsyplakov-MacLean-Gatcomb
Romanov-DeAngelo
Pelech-Dobson
Boqvist-Pulock
Sorokin
Hogberg
Who’s Hot:
DeAngelo has a four-game point streak entering Saturday’s game after getting a goal on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The defenseman has a goal and four assists for five points in that span.
In their last meeting, Adam Boqvist scored his first goal as an Islander. He’s played as a forward over the past few games, notching a goal and three assists in that stretch, but will return to the blue line.
Kyle Palmieri leads the Islanders in goals against the Lightning with 12 in 28 career games. Bo Horvat has nine assists in 20 career games to lead the team, with Anders Lee topping New York in total points with 15 in 30 contests.
Ilya Sorokin will start the front end of the Islanders’ back-to-back this weekend. He took the loss with four goals against on 19 shots against Vancouver on Wednesday. Against the Lightning, he is 3-5-0 with a 3.38 GAA and .881 SV%, most recently making 29 saves on 31 shots in their last meeting.
OPPONENTS NOTES:
Tampa Bay brought two familiar faces in with a trade with the Seattle Kraken. Oliver Bjorkstrand, a former Columbus Blue Jacket, and Yanni Gourde, a one-time Lightning forward, joined Tampa Bay at the Trade Deadline. Gourde has eight assists and Bjorkstrand has three goals and two assists for five points in 11 games since the trade.
Nikita Kucherov had a four-point game against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, the 32nd of his future Hall of Fame career. He has a seven-game point streak with four goals and nine assists for 13 points in that span. He also has points in nine straight games against New York, boasting five goals and nine assists for 14 points.
Darren Raddysh has a four-game point streak against New York entering Saturday’s game. The defenseman has a goal and three assists for four points in that span.
Brandon Hagel is enjoying a career year for the Lightning, notching 33 goals and 47 assists for 80 points in 72 games. He has a five-game point streak entering Saturday’s game with two goals and five assists for seven points in that span.
Cam Atkinson leads the Lightning in career goals against New York with 14 in 35 games. Jake Guentzel leads the team in assists and points against the Islanders with 21 and 33, respectively, in 31 games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy will oppose Sorokin in net. The former Vezina Trophy winner earned his 40th career shutout on Thursday against Utah, making all 25 saves. Against New York, he is 13-4-1 in 19 games, boasting a 2.09 GAA and .936 SV%, most recently allowing three goals on 36 shots in the overtime loss in their last meeting.
TAMPA BAY LINES:
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.
Lou has to also sign Dobson Holmstrom and Romanov as Restricted FA before this situation gets messy. If I am another team I have a lot of interest in all three. Lou signing Engvall and Mayfield is hurting us and will hurt us. Patty wanting DuClair turned out just as bad.
That eight spot never meant much. You can’t win with this PP. Defensive shortcomings and lack of consistent physicality. Who ever is GM he better have the off season of a lifetime! That person needs to sit down with Dobson and Barzel and get them Summer training help, which they should pay out of their pocket. The way Oates helped both Horvat in the past and Lee last year is impressive. Lee was spectacular, never thought he could play so well. Lee and Palmeri earned the right to play another year on the Island. I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams had some interest. Two great Pros!