Game Preview: Islanders at Predators

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-2-1) VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (3-4-0)
1:30 P.M. ET | BRIDGESTONE ARENA
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The New York Islanders are looking to string three wins in a row as they continue their 13-game road trip down in Music City as they take on the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon.

The Islanders enter the matchup on a high note and are rested following a five-day stretch without a game and are coming off back-to-back shutouts (Arizona 3-0 and Vegas 2-0) from last Saturday and Sunday. The Islanders took advantage of the rare break in play, especially during this year's compacted schedule due to the 2022 Winter Olympics and took three days off of practice earlier this week before hitting the ice for Thursday and Friday in preparation.
"I know it was the right decision for us," Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "Just with the travel. You play back-to-back, guys are wound back. We were away [from home] for almost two weeks. We have a mature team with young families. They go home and they want to see their kids. They didn't get any rest; I'll tell you that…There are very few times in the schedule where you can help guys. This was one [of those times] where you could help them out. You could get them re-energized. I trust this group."
After posting consecutive shutouts, sophomore netminder Ilya Sorokin was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week. The 26-year-old Russian has started all six games this season for the Islanders, earning a record of 3-2-1 in doing so. While Sorokin seems to be finding his groove, the Islanders could get a boost with their goalie tandem as veteran Semyon Varlamov confirmed, following Thursday's practice that he feels 'ready to play,' after rehabbing a nagging injury that has sidelined him the entirety of the preseason and regular season so far.
Nashville enters Saturday's meeting coming off a 3-1 win over San Jose where Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg and Mikael Granlund scored, while Juuse Saros made 28 saves.
Saturday's meeting marks the first time since February 13, 2020, that the two teams have met.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Sorokin earned consecutive shutouts for the second time in his young career and did so in his first back-to-back set of his NHL career. In addition to his 3-2-1 record this season, Sorokin has a 2.33 GAA and a .922 SV%. He recorded a career-high 42 saves as the Islanders shut out Vegas 2-0 last Sunday night.
• Josh Bailey opened scoring against Vegas as he notched his first goal of the season and finished the night with a two-point performance (1G, 1A). Bailey now has team-leading four points (1G, 3A) through six games this season. The veteran winger surpassed Bob Nystrom for sole possession of 10th place in franchise history with his 514th (and later 515th) -career point.
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• Mathew Barzal scored his third goal of the season with his tally against Vegas. The center now has three goals through six games.
• After missing Thursday's skate with back tightness, Zach Parise practiced on Friday and will be a game-time decision for facing Nashville. "He felt much better right now," Trotz said. "As of right he is making the trip and playing tomorrow. Ultimately, we will make that decision after warmups tomorrow."
• If Varlamov plays on Saturday against Nashville, that'll mark the season debut for the 33-year-old. Last season, Varlamov earned a 19-11-4 regular season record and a career-best seven shutouts that was also tied for the best in the NHL.
• After shutting out both Arizona and Vegas last weekend, the Islanders are 2-0-0 in back-to-back sets, a good sign for the group that is slated for 19 of those this season.
• The Islanders are 3-1-1 when scoring first and are 0-1-0 when allowing the opening goal.

Video: Practice 10/29: Barry Trotz

PREDATORS NOTES:

• Roman Josi is off to a strong start as the 31-year-old defenseman leads the Predators in scoring with nine points (3G, 6A). The Swiss blueliner and 2019-20 Norris Trophy recipient currently leads all NHL defensemen in points (9) and is tied with Florida's Aaron Ekblad and Anaheim's Kevin Shattenkirk for the league lead in goals (3). Josi is riding a three-game point streak with seven points (2G, 5A) in that stretch.
• In addition to Josi's three goals, Forsberg and Ryan Johansen also are tied for the team lead in goals with three each. Forsberg is riding a two-game goal streak and has totaled six points (3G, 3A) through seven games this season.
• Saros, the 26-year-old Finnish netminder for the Preds, has started in six of their seven games this season. He's earned a 2-4-0 record, a 2.56 GAA and a .911 SV%.
• Nashville's power play ranks third overall in the NHL with a 31.8% conversion rate. The Preds have scored seven power-play goals this season, which is tied with Chicago for the second-most in the league. Josi leads Nashville in power-play points with five (2G, 3A).
• The Predators made a few offseason moves as they acquired Philippe Myers from Philadelphia and Cody Glass from Vegas. Ryan Ellis was dealt to Philadelphia, while long-time netminder and former Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne retired.
• Nashville boasts a healthy roster and currently does not have any players listed on injured reserve.