Game Preview: Islanders at Golden Knights

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (24-20-5) AT VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (32-11-4)
10 P.M. ET - T-MOBILE ARENA
TV: MSG+ MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM, 103.9FM, AM970
MORNING SKATE UPDATES
In their final game before the all-star break, the New York Islanders are going to Vegas to test their luck against the top team in the West, as they take on the Golden Knights (10 p.m., MSG+).
The Islanders are coming off a 3-2 OT loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night, but have a chance to finish their three-game road trip with five of a possible six points. They need the points, as they sit two back of Pittsburgh and Columbus in the Eastern Conference Wild Card.

"I think everyone is aware of the importance of coming here and taking care of business on the ice and the two points we need," John Tavares said.
READ: ISLES EXCITED FOR FIRST GAME IN VEGAS
It won't be easy, as the Golden Knights have the league's best home record (19-2-2), but the Islanders are hoping to beat the house on Thursday.
"At home they've been virtually perfect. It's just another test for us," Cal Clutterbuck said.
Anthony Beauvillier continues to be the hottest Islander since the team's bye week, with seven goals in the six games since the break. The 20-year-old winger scored twice in the OT loss to Arizona.

LINEUP NOTES:

UPDATE: HALAK IN GOAL, SAME D-PAIRS, THIRD AND FOURTH LINES SHUFFLED.
Casey Cizikas and Johnny Boychuk practiced on Wednesday, but Head Coach Doug Weight did not have an update on either player. Cizikas practiced with Brock Nelson, Alan Quine and Ross Johnston.

SEASON SERIES:

The Islanders lead the season series - and all-time series - 1-0-0 after a 6-3 win on Oct. 30. John Tavares scored a pair of goals in the win, while Mat Barzal, Cal Clutterbuck and injured forwards Andrew Ladd and Nikolay Kulemin also scored.

BY THE NUMBERS:

8 - goals in seven games for Anthony Beauvillier.
3.43 goals per game for the Golden Knights, second in the NHL
3.41 goals per game for the Islanders, third in the NHL.

THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS:

Last Game: W 6-3 vs Columbus
Leading Scorers:Goals: William Karlsson - 27
Assists: Jonathan Marchessault & David Perron - 29
Points: Jonathan Marchessault - 46
The Vegas Golden Knights sit atop the Western Conference and are one point shy of the league lead - a remarkable and unprecedented season for an expansion team.
It hasn't taken long for Vegas to become a tough place to play, as the Golden Knights own the league's top home record at 19-2-2.
"The days of the underdog expansion talk should have ended a while ago," said Head Coach Doug Weight. "I think they've proven that they're a heck of a team and have proven that they're not going away."
William Karlsson leads the Golden Knights with 27 goals, which ties Anders Lee for second-most in the NHL. Karlsson's been a revelation for the Golden Knights, as his 27 goals are more than he scored in his first three years in the league - combined.
"It's no secret they've been playing some really good hockey," John Tavares said. "What they've been able to do is very impressive. It was a big unknown coming into the year how they were going to do."
Vegas was down to their third goalie when the teams met in Brooklyn in October, but starter Marc-Andre Fleury will likely play on Thursday. Fleury is 12-3-2 with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage, which rank among his best career numbers, albeit in a small sample size. Fleury has won three straight starts.