Islanders hope to stay hot on road against Oilers

ISLANDERS (24-32-8) at OILERS (21-34-8)

TV: MSG PLUS, SNET-W

Last 10: New York 3-7-0; Edmonton 6-2-2

Season series: This is the second and final game between the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers. The Islanders won the previous meeting 3-2 in October behind two third-period goals and 27 saves by Evgeni Nabokov.

Big story: Both teams were active before the NHL Trade Deadline. The Oilers traded goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to the Minnesota Wild before acquiring goalie Viktor Fasth from the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, then shipped forward Ales Hemsky to the Ottawa Senators for draft picks on Wednesday. Edmonton also unloaded defenseman Nick Schultz to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a draft pick.

The Islanders dealt defenseman Andrew MacDonald to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for draft picks and prospect Matt Mangene before trading Thomas Vanek and a draft pick to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday for prospect Sebastian Collberg and a draft pick.

Team Scope:

Islanders: Without MacDonald and Vanek (scratched Tuesday before getting traded), the Islanders still managed to beat the Winnipeg Jets in overtime, 3-2 on a goal by Michael Grabner.

"With everything we've got going on right now, it's about staying together," Jack Capuano told MSG Network after the game. "That's the focus right now."

The Islanders earned their 11th road win in the past 14 games away from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and continue a four-game Canadian road trip with stops in Calgary and Vancouver after Edmonton.

The loss of Vanek means the Islanders are now without two of their top three scorers with John Tavares (knee) sidelined for the season.

Oilers: The Oilers, who had scored two goals in their previous three games, ended a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. Hemsky scored two goals for the Oilers against his now-current team. His departure left Sam Gagner, who has been on the team since 2007, as the longest-tenured Oiler.

"It makes me the longest-serving guy here now. Obviously, [Hemsky] has been here the entire time I have. … It's always tough to see teammates go," Gagner said Wednesday. "I think with Ales' situation, you kind of knew it beforehand, but it's still different."

On Fasth, Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish said Tuesday:

"[Fasth has] got a real good record in this League. This year was a little of a setback from some injury standpoints, but it just gives us certainty going into next year with our goaltending."

Who's hot: Grabner and Anders Lee each had a goal Tuesday and both have three goals in four games for the Islanders. … Oilers forward Nail Yakupov has four points in five games.

Injury report: In addition to Tavares, the Islanders could be without Eric Boulton (hand), who left the game Tuesday. … Oilers defenseman Anton Belov (oblique) is on injured reserve. Fasth (lower body), who had completed a conditioning stint in the American Hockey League prior to the trade, didn't arrive in Edmonton in time for practice Wednesday, but is expected to be ready Thursday.