Game Preview: Islanders at Canucks

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (35-18-7) AT VANCOUVER CANUCKS (26-27-8)
10 PM | ROGERS ARENA
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LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS
MORNING SKATE UPDATES | GAME NOTES

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders are looking to snap a two-game winless streak (0-1-1) after dropping a 4-2 decision in Calgary on Wednesday and falling 4-3 in OT in Edmonton on Thursday. The Islanders haven't lost three straight games since Nov. 5-10.
  - Anders Lee has scored in three straight games, upping his team-leading total to 21 tallies. Lee previously had a four-game goal streak from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6.
  - The Islanders (77 points) are first place in the Metropolitan Division and lead the Washington Capitals (75 points) by two points.
  - Abbotsford, BC, native Devon Toews is set to play an NHL game in home province for the first time on Saturday. Toews has 11 points (4G, 7A) in 26 games this season and is riding a four-game assist streak (5A). The Islanders are 18-5-3 with Toews in the lineup this season.
  - Coquitlam, BC, native Mathew Barzal will be playing his second-career game in Vancouver. Barzal leads the Islanders with 33 assists and 50 points this season.
  - Brock Nelson scored his 19th goal of the season on Thursday, matching his total from all of last year. Nelson is one goal shy of his fourth-career, 20-goal season. The Isles center has four points (2G, 2A) in his last three games.
  - The Islanders will be looking to get off to a faster start on Saturday, after falling behind in each of their last two contests. The Islanders are 6-4-1 this season when trailing 2-0, but have lost their last two.

CANUCKS NOTES:

• The Canucks (60 points) are currently four points back of the Minnesota Wild (64 points) for the second wild card berth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
  - The Canucks are 1-3-1 in their last five games, most recently falling 3-2 in OT to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night.
  - Rookie Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks in goals (26), assists (28) and points (54) in 50 games this season. Pettersson leads all rookies in goals, assists and points as well, making him the likely favorite to win the Calder Trophy.
  - Bo Horvat is second on the team with 46 points (21G, 25A) in 61 games. Brock Boeser has 41 points (21G, 20A) in 48 games this season. Boeser is riding a three-game point streak (2G, 1A).