Game Preview: Islanders at Kings

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (2-3-0) AT LA KINGS (2-3-1)
10:30 P.M. ET - STAPLES CENTER
TV: MSG+, MSG GO, NHL.TV
RADIO: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM
GAME NOTES
Barry Trotz was happy with the Islanders effort, though not the result, in a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night. That said, the Islanders coach wants to see how his team responds when they take on the LA Kings on the second half of a back-to-back set.
"I would take that game most nights," Trotz said of Wednesday's contest. "The hockey gods sometimes they don't give you the result and it's a little test to see if you're mentally strong enough, can you handle it… Do you pout or go in a different direction. That's the process we're going through."
The Islanders are currently 0-2-0 on their four-game road trip, which continues Thursday in LA and concludes on Saturday in San Jose.

#

ISLANDERS NOTES:

-- Robin Lehner will start in goal for the Islanders. Lehner is 1-1-0 to start the season with a 2.02 goals-against average, a .937 save percentage and one shutout.
-- Johnny Boychuk briefly left Wednesday's game after taking a Marcus Pettersson shot off his left ankle. Head Coach Barry Trotz was surprised to see Boychuk return after needing to be helped off the ice and said he wanted to re-evaluate the defenseman before Thursday's contest.
UPDATE: Boychuk took the Islanders optional morning skate and is expected to play on Thursday night.
-- The Isles are 1-7-0 since then in their last eight games in LA, winning only on a Kyle Okposo shootout tally in 2014, and scoring only nine goals (plus that shootout winner in the eight games). The Islanders last regulation win in Los Angeles came with Garth Snow in net in 2003.
-- Overall, the Islanders are 6-6-0 over the last 12 games vs. Los Angeles.

ISLANDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: CASEY CIZIKAS

Casey Cizikas returned to the Islanders lineup on Wednesday night after missing one game with a lower-body injury. Cizikas, who Trotz affectionately described as a "junkyard dog" for his feisty, energetic style, broke John Gibson's shutout bid with 35 seconds to play. Cizikas has two goals in four games to start the season.

KINGS NOTES:

-- Alex Iafallo leads the Kings with five points (2G, 3A) in six games.
-- Jonathan Quick has missed five straight games with a lower-body injury. The Kings goalie returned to practice on Wednesday, but his status for Thursday's game is unclear. Quick is 0-0-1 this year with a 2.09 GAA and a .909SV%.
UPDATE: Quick is expected to start in goal according to LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen.
-- Jack Campbell has started five straight games in Quick's absence going 2-3-0 with a 2.69 GAA, a .922SV% and a shutout.
-- Anze Kopitar has two goals to start the season. Kopitar was a finalist for the Hart Trophy last year after posting a career-high 92 points (35G, 57A).

KINGS PLAYER TO WATCH: ILYA KOVALCHUK

Ilya Kovalchuk is back in the NHL after spending the last five seasons playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. After spending five years playing overseas, the obvious question was how would the 35-year-old sniper handle re-entry into the NHL. So far, so good, as Kovalchuk has four points (2G, 2A) in six games to start the season.

\Graphic courtesy of Islanders PR*