Game Preview: Islanders at Canadiens

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (42-24-7) AT MONTREAL CANADIENS (38-28-7)
7:30 PM | CENTRE BELL
WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS
MORNING SKATE UPDATES | GAME NOTES

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders are coming off of a 5-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night at the NYCB Nassau Coliseum. The Bruins struck early with a tally from Sean Kuraly 1:12 into the first period and led for the rest of the night. The Islanders were outshot 39-13, a season low in shots.
  - Valtteri Filppula is expected to miss the next four weeks with an upper-body injury, the result of a hit from Connor Clifton on Tuesday night. Jordan Eberle is day to day with an upper-body injury, but accompanied the team on their two-game road trip to Montreal and Philadelphia.
  - As a result, Tanner Fritz was recalled from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Wednesday afternoon. Fritz, a natural center, is likely to be part of the platoon to fill in for Valtteri Filppula. Fritz played four games with the Islanders this season - and an additional 57 in Bridgeport.
  - Cal Clutterbuck left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury, but fully participated in practice on Wednesday morning.
  - The Islanders (91 points) are currently second in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind the Washington Capitals (94 points).
  Per Eric Hornick,
  the Isles' magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 11, but it would fall to 7 with an Islander win in regulation.
  - Goaltender Robin Lehner played in his first game back since March 5 when he suffered an upper-body injury against Ottawa. Lehner made 34 saves against Boston. Lehner is 20-12-5 with a 2.27 GAA, a .925 SV% and four shutouts.
  - Both Islanders goaltenders have reached the 20-win mark this season, as Thomas Greiss has 22 wins, while Lehner has 20. It's the first time since the cup years that two different Isles goalies have won at least 20 games; Billy Smith won 23 games and Roland Melanson won 20 in 1983-84.
  - Casey Cizikas returned to the lineup against Boston after missing two-games with a lower-body injury.
  - The Islanders lead the league with goals against per game with an average of 2.37. The league average is 2.99.

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CANADIENS NOTES:

• The Canadiens enter the contest following a 3-1 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Brendan Gallagher, Shea Weber and Max Domi each scored. Goaltender Carey Price made 32 saves. Montreal outshot Philadelphia 36-33.
  - With the win, Montreal (83 points) moved within one point of Columbus (84 points) for the second Eastern Conference Wild Card spot. Carolina (87 points) currently holds the first Wild Card in the East.
  - The Canadiens are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games and are 1-1-0 in two games since facing the Islanders last week.
  - In his first year with the Montreal, Domi leads the Canadiens in scoring 25 goals and 64 points.
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