Game Preview: Islanders at Flames

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (35-17-6) AT CALGARY FLAMES (36-16-7)
9:30 PM ET | SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME
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ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders have won two straight games, most recently beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Saturday night. The Isles are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and are 21-5-2 since Dec. 15, the most wins and points in the NHL over that span.
  - The Islanders (76 points) are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, three points ahead of the Washington Capitals (73 points) and five points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins (71 points).
  - Michael Dal Colle was loaned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Tuesday morning. Dal Colle recorded four points, including his first-career goal and assist, in 20 games with the Islanders this season over three recalls.
  - Thomas Hickey and Andrew Ladd were recalled from their conditioning stints in Bridgeport on Tuesday. Ladd had five points (1G, 4A) and Hickey had four (2G, 2A) in two games down in Bridgeport. Both players are still on long term injured reserve.
  - The Isles are playing three games in four days in Western Canada, starting with a Calgary-Edmonton back-to-back set on Wednesday and Thursday. The Isles are 6-2-1 in the front end of back-to-backs and a club record 9-0-0 in the back end. The road trip concludes on Saturday in Vancouver.
  - Anders Lee scored his first goal since Jan. 17 on Saturday night. Lee leads the Islanders with 19 tallies this season.
  - Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss are likely to split the Isles upcoming back-to-back. Lehner is 14-3-1 (1.64, .943) in his last 18 decisions. On the season, his NHL-leading GAA is 2.08 and his save percentage is .929. Greiss is 5-0-1 in the last six games, allowing a total of three goals on 188 shots (5-0-1, 0.48 GAA, .984 save percentage). On the season, his GAA is 2.20 and his NHL-leading save percentage is .930.
  - The Islanders can surpass their win total from last season (35) with a victory on Wednesday.
  - Ryan Pulock has eight points (3G, 5A) in his last eight games. Pulock leads all Isles defensemen in goals (6) and points (27).

FLAMES NOTES:

• The Flames are in first place in the Western Conference with 79 points in 59 games like this season. Like the Islanders, who've already matched their win total from the 2017-18 season, the Flames are five points shy of matching their output from all of last season (84).
  - Calgary leads the West (and is second in the NHL) in goals for per game (3.68)
  - Johnny Gaudreau leads the Flames with 78 points (29G, 49A) and is six points shy of matching his career-high (84) set during the 2017-18 season. Johnny Hockey has been one of the NHL's most consistent offensive producers over the past five seasons, with 366 points (126G, 240A) in 371 games.
  - The Flames boast three of the league's top-20 scorers, as Gaudreau is fourth, Elias Lindholm (68 points) is tied for 14th while Sean Monahan (66 points) is tied for 19th. Matthew Tkachuk also has 59 points in 59 games this season.
  - Calgary captain Mark Giordano is averaging a point-per-game, with 57 points (13G, 44A) in 57 games. Giordano is tied for second among NHL defensemen in points this season trailing only San Jose's Brent Burns.
  - UPDATE:Mike Smith gets the start for Calgary. Smith is 16-11-2 this season with a 3.05 GAA, a .892S SV% and two shutouts. Smith is 2-0-1 in his last three starts and is 5-4-0 with a 2.68 GAA, a .914 SV% and a shutout lifetime vs the Islanders.