Game Preview: Islanders at Predators

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (11-6-0) AT NASHVILLE PREDATORS (7-8-1)
8 PM ET | BRIDGESTONE ARENA
WATCH: MSGSN | MSGGO | ESPN+
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 1050 AM
The New York Islanders head back out on the road and look to extend their win streak to three games when they take on the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
The Islanders beat the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Monday and the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime on Saturday and have won nine of their past 11 games. Brock Nelson scored three goals in the two games, and Mathew Barzal had three assists. The team scored two power-play goals in Ottawa, from Oliver Wahlstrom and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

Nashville is on a two-game win streak of its own, with 2-1 wins over the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild. Juuse Saros backstopped the Predators, saving 66 of 68 shots across the two games.
The Isles are 0-5-2 in their last seven games with Nashville, including 0-2-1 in Music City.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Mathew Barzal became the first Islander in 38 years with 18 assists in the first 17 games. The last to achieve the feat are Mike Bossy, Pat LaFontaine, John Tonelli and Brent Sutter. Barzal has the third most assists in the NHL, but has yet to record a goal. The only player in franchise history with more assists prior to scoring their first goal of the season is Gary Nylund (21 in 1989-90).
  - The Islanders lead the NHL with 28 third period goals; they have scored 29 goals in the first, second and overtime periods combined.
  - With a goal on Monday, Noah Dobson is now tied for third most goals by a defenseman in the NHL with five. Only Erik Karlsson and Rasmus Dahlin have more. The Islanders still sit in first in the league with the most goals scored by defensemen with 14 total.
  - Brock Nelson took the lead in team goal scoring with an empty-netter on Monday in Ottawa. Nelson led the Islanders in goals last season with 37 and is on pace for 43 over an 82-game season right now.
  - The Islanders scored two power-play goals in a game for the third time this season and in their second consecutive road outing. They also allowed their ninth power play goal in nine games.
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  ISLES VIDEO
  Lambert Pregame
  Nelson Pregame
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  - Oliver Wahlstrom snapped an eight-game goal drought with his goal on Monday.
  - The Islanders have allowed nine power-play goals over the past nine games.
  - The Islanders are 6-0-0 when scoring first and are 7-0-0 when leading after two periods.
  - Nikita Soshnikov was loaned to the Bridgeport Islanders on Wednesday night. Soshnikov played in three of the Islanders first 17 games.

PREDATORS NOTES:

• This offseason, the Predators signed former Islander Nino Niederreiter to a two-year contract. Niederreiter leads Nashville with seven goals this season.
  - Forward Juuso Parssinen made his NHL debut with the Predators on Nov. 12 and scored a goal in his first NHL game. He is the fifth Predators skater to score in his NHL debut.
  - Filip Forsberg leads the Predators with 15 points (5G, 10A) in 16 games. Forsberg had 84 points (42G, 42A) in 69 games last season, and signed an eight-year extension to stay in Nashville.
  - Roman Josi was a Norris finalist last season, and played under Lambert with the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, where Lambert was head coach, and in Nashville. Josi has 10 points (3G, 7A) in 16 games this season and nine points (3G, 6A) in his last nine games.
  - Juuse Saros was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, and the Predators signed Kevin Lankinen to complete the tandem this offseason. Saros has a .907 save percentage and a 3.03 GAA so far this year, and Lankinen has a .921 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA.
  - The Predators have been outscored 20-11 in the first period this season.
  - While Nashville owns the league's 30th ranked power play (15%), the Predators have scored six power-play goals in their last seven games, going 6-for-24 (25%) over that span.
  - John Hynes is one win away from his 100th with the Predators.