Game Preview: Islanders at Predators

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (2-1-0) AT NASHVILLE PREDATORS (3-1-0)
8 P.M. ET | BRIDGESTONE ARENA
TV: MSG+ | MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM
GAME NOTES | MORNING SKATE UPDATES
After a four-day break, the New York Islanders return to action on Saturday night, taking on the Nashville Predators for the second time in a week.
The Predators won the first meeting last Saturday 4-3, but the Islanders responded with a 4-0 win over the San Jose Sharks in a Columbus Day matinee. Robin Lehner made 35 saves for the shutout.
This is the second and final meeting between the teams this season and marks the first game of a four-game Western Conference swing for the Islanders. The Islanders have won two straight games in Music City.

ISLANDERS NOTES:
- Casey Cizikas was reportedly not at Friday's practice and is a game-time decision for Saturday's contest. UPDATE: Cizikas was placed on IR retroactive to Oct. 3. Stephen Gionta was signed to a one-year, two-way deal and will fill in for Cizikas on Saturday.
- Andrew Ladd could potentially return to the lineup - and make his season debut - on Saturday. Ladd suffered an injury on Sept. 16, but has been skating with the Islanders since Oct. 3. This past week, Ladd practiced on a line with Valtteri Filppula and Leo Komarov, signaling his likely line mates when he returns. UPDATE: Ladd was activated off IR and will play on Saturday. Read more in our morning skate updates.
- The Islanders power play has scored in three straight games and is 3-for-11 (27.3%) this season.
- The Islanders penalty kill is a perfect 8-for-8 this season.
- Tanner Fritz was loaned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Thursday morning. Jan Kovar was placed on unconditional waivers on Wednesday and cleared on Thursday.
- Valtteri Filppula is riding a three-game point streak (2G, 1A), while Anders Lee has goals in back to back games.
- Brock Nelson is one goal shy of 100 NHL goals.

PREDATORS NOTES:
- The Predators enter Saturday's contest on the heels of a 3-0 shutout win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
- Viktor Arvidsson leads Nashville in goals (2) and is tied with five other Predators point lead with three.
- Pekka Rinne recorded his 52nd career shutout on Thursday.
- The Predators power play is 0-for-15 to start the season. Nashville's penalty kill is 8-for-11 to start the season (72.7%).
- Juuse Saros will start in goal for Nashville. Saros made 26 saves in a 4-3 win over the Islanders last Saturday in Brooklyn.

ISLANDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: ANDERS LEE
After scoring a career-high 40 goals last season, Anders Lee has picked up right where he left off at the start of the 2018-19 campaign. Lee has netted a power-play goal in each of the past two games, scoring in typical Lee fashion around the front of the net. The Edina, MN native became the 15th captain in franchise history on Oct. 4.
PREDATORS PLAYER TO WATCH: VIKTOR ARVIDSSON
Viktor Arvidsson leads the Predators with two goals and is tied for the team lead with three points in the opening four games of the season. Arvidsson scored both of his goals this season against the Islanders last Saturday. The 25-year-old Swede has emerged as one of Nashville's top offensive threats over the past two seasons, recording 61 points in each of the past two campaigns.