Game Preview: Islanders at Blue Jackets

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (17-11-3) AT COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (19-11-1)
7 P.M. NATIONWIDE ARENA
TV: MSG+, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM, 103.9FM, AM 970
After a 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night, the New York Islanders are looking to bounce back on Thursday when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
The Islanders have been able to shake off losses this season and haven't gone back-to-back games without a point during the 2017-18 campaign. Under Doug Weight, the Islanders are 8-0-1 in the game following a loss by three or more goals.

"I like the fact that after a loss we refocus, but losing is unacceptable," head coach Doug Weight said. "You have to be a realist and take the game for what it is. We have to get better in certain areas, but we plan on growing from the game last night."
It won't be easy, as the Islanders take on the Metropolitan Division-leading Blue Jackets in a building that hasn't been kind to the Isles of late. The Islanders have lost three straight games at Nationwide Arena by a combined score of 18-2, including a 5-0 loss in their season-opener.
"We have to come out flying. We have to be ready, they had a tough one last night and we had a tough one tonight," Anders Lee said after Wednesday's loss. "Both teams are looking to get back on track."

LINEUP NOTES:

Thomas Greiss will start in goal for the Islanders. Greiss is making his first start in five games, but his second straight appearance. Greiss stopped six of seven shots in relief of Jaroslav Halak in Wednesday's loss to Dallas.
Alan Quine draws in for Anthony Beauvillier and will center the Islanders fourth line. As a result, Casey Cizikas moves up to the third line with Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier.
ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:
| FORWARDS | | --- | | LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING | | ANDERS LEE | JOHN TAVARES | JOSH BAILEY | | ANDREW LADD | MATHEW BARZAL | JORDAN EBERLE | | BROCK NELSON | CASEY CIZIKAS | JOSH HO-SANG | | JASON CHIMERA | ALAN QUINE | CAL CLUTTERBUCK |

| DEFENSE | | --- | | NICK LEDDY | JOHNNY BOYCHUK | | CALVIN DE HAAN | ADAM PELECH | | RYAN PULOCK | SCOTT MAYFIELD |

BY THE NUMBERS:

8-0-1 - The Islanders record in games following a loss by three or more goals under Doug Weight.
19 - goals for Anders Lee. Lee took over the team in goals after scoring a pair against the Stars. The Isles forward is third in the NHL behind Nikita Kucherov and Alex Ovechkin.

THE BLUE JACKETS:

Last Game: 7-2 L vs Oilers
Scoring Leaders:Points: Artemi Panarin - 26
Goals: Josh Anderson - 11
Assists: Artemi Panarin - 19
Power Play:9.19% - 31st
Penalty Kill:83.95% - 4th
Like the Islanders, the Blue Jackets are coming in off a loss, falling 7-2 to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Overall, the Blue Jackets are 10-5-0 in their last 15 games.
Artemi Panarin leads the Blue Jackets in team scoring with 26 points (7G, 19A) so far this season and has seven points (1G, 6A) in his last five games. Panarin's 19 assists in 31 games this season are tops on the team and he potted five against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 8.
Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky is among the top goalies in the NHL again this season. Bobrovsky is first in shutouts (4) and tied for third in wins (16). The netminder's 2.20 goals-against average is tied for third in the league for goalies who have played more than 10 games. Bobrovsky has a .926 save percentage.
Panarin and Bobrovsky aren't the only ones making noise. Rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois has four points (1G, 3A) in his last five games.
Blue Jackets alternate captain Brandon Dubinsky suffered a broken orbital bone against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night and will be out 6-8 weeks.
BLUE JACKETS PROJECTED LINES:
With files from Yali Cohen