Islanders Battle Jets For First Leg Of Back-To-Back Before 4 Nations Face-Off Break: Lines & Notes
Islanders red-hot Ilya Sorokin will have a tall task against one of the league's best goalies and teams.
As the NHL enters the final weekend of play before the Four Nations Faceoff, the New York Islanders (25-21-7) open a weekend back-to-back against the Winnipeg Jets (38-14-3).
Puck drop at Canada Life Centre is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders and Jets split their two meetings last season, with Winnipeg taking their meeting in Manitoba on Jan. 16, 2023. The Islanders salvaged the split with a 6-3 win over at UBS Arena on March 23.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Lee-Horvat-Duclair
Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri
Cizikas-Pageau-Holmstrom
Engvall-MacLean-Gatcomb
Romanov-DeAngelo
Pelech-Perunovich
Cholowski-Boqvist
Sorokin
Skarek
Who’s Hot:
Maxim Tsyplakov has a four-game assist streak entering Friday’s game, it’s the longest point streak of his rookie season. Adam Pelech also continues to rack up helpers as of late, boasting seven in his last 10 games.
Tony DeAngelo continues to impress since joining the Islanders, boasting a three-game point streak after assisting on Brock Nelson’s game-winner on Tuesday. The defenseman has a goal and two assists for three points in that span.
Bo Horvat has a five-game point streak against Winnipeg coming into Friday. The centerman has two goals and three assists for five points in that span. He scored the first goal of the game in Tuesday’s win against the Vegas Golden Knights.
After scoring his first NHL goal against them in his NHL debut, Anders Lee has dominated the Jets in his career. In 20 games against them, he has a whopping 17 goals and 24 points to lead in each category. Horvat leads the Islanders in assists against them with 10.
Head coach Patrick Roy confirmed Ilya Sorokin will start both games of this weekend’s back-to-back beginning against the Jets. He earned the win over Vegas on Tuesday with 33 saves on 34 shots. Against Winnipeg, he is 2-1-0 in three career matchups with a 1.35 GAA and .957 SV%, most recently allowing three goals on 43 shots in a loss on Jan. 16, 2023.
Opponents Notes:
Vladislav Namestnikov enters Friday’s game on a three-game point streak. The journeyman forward has a goal and four assists for five points in that span. Cole Perfetti has points in four straight games, boasting a goal and four helpers for five points in the stretch. Both lit the lamp the last time the two teams met.
Defenseman Neal Pionk is on pace for a career year for the Jets. In 55 games, he has eight goals and 28 assists for 36 points, on pace to break his career-high 45 points from the 2019-20 season. He has a three-game point streak entering Friday’s game with a goal and three assists for four points in that span.
Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele have been a lethal duo for Winnipeg this season. Both are averaging well over a point per game, starting with Connor boasting 30 goals and 37 assists for 67 points. Scheifele has 31 red lights and 30 helpers so far this season, with both players skating in 55 games.
Nino Niederreiter leads the Jets roster in scoring across the board against New York. The former Islanders draft pick has six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 19 career games against them.
Connor Hellebuyck will start on Friday in search of his sixth straight win. The former Vezina Trophy winner last started on Feb. 1 against the Washington Capitals, making 25 saves on 29 shots in the win. Against New York, he is 4-6-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .906 SV%, allowing five goals on 26 shots in their last meeting before getting pulled.
Winnipeg Jets Latest Lines:
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Trade speculation around any Islanders players is most likely not accurate. If Lou was discussing a blockbuster like Dobson it wouldn’t be out there period. I think it gets attention for a site or media company. Thats why it comes from one source, then disseminates a ripple across other media. Lou most likely uses an encrypted phone package to speak one on one with another GM, that is clear on all the preliminaries and respects them lol. This is a fluid situation because of the terrible start this team has had, and the systemic failure of the PP. A lot of moving parts, let’s be honest in order to get in the playoffs they need an epic finish.
Not a fan of Perunovich defensively or offensively. Boqvist and DeAngelo have worked out. Boqvist on the PP is intriguing. Boqvist is a guy you gotta work with and try to get the best from him. The talent is there.