Game Preview: Islanders at Senators

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (38-21-7) AT OTTAWA SENATORS (23-38-6)
7:30 PM | CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE
WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Christopher Gibson was an emergency recall for the Islanders on Wednesday morning. Gibson's recall was necessary after Robin Lehner exited Tuesday's game in the third period after a collision with Brady Tkachuk. Lehner's status remains unclear, but it's quite likely that Thomas Greiss, who picked up a win in a relief effort on Tuesday, will be in goal on Thursday in Ottawa.
  - Tuesday's shootout win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Islanders. The two points were crucial for the Isles, who called it a confidence-building win, even if they felt they didn't play their best game, surrendering a two-goal, third period lead.
  - The Islanders (83 points) are second in the Metropolitan Division, two points back of the Washington Capitals (85 points) with a game in hand.
  - Barry Trotz recorded his 800th career NHL win on Tuesday, becoming the fourth coach in league history to accomplish the feat.
  - Matt Martin missed his third straight with an upper-body injury on Tuesday, while Cal Clutterbuck missed Tuesday's game as well.
  - Michael Dal Colle drew in for Clutterbuck on Tuesday after being emergency recalled, recording an assist, a hit and a shot in 13:04 TOI. Trotz said he was impressed with Dal Colle's saying that the rookie was playing with confidence and trust in his game.
  - Josh Ho-Sang was also an emergency recall on Tuesday, but did not draw into the lineup. Ho-Sang was insurance in case Casey Cizikas - who was battling the flu - was not able to suit up.
  - With Martin and Clutterbuck out, the Isles debuted some new lines on Tuesday. Dal Colle played with Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, Jordan Eberle played with Valtteri Filppula and Andrew Ladd, Josh Bailey played on the top line with Anders Lee and Brock Nelson, while Ross Johnston and Leo Komarov flanked Cizikas.
  - The Isles are 24-9-3 in their last 36 games but are only 3-4-1 in their last eight games.
  - Bailey has reached the 50-point mark for a third-straight season. Lee's goal was his 250th NHL point.

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SENATORS NOTES:

• Craig Anderson made 34 saves in Tuesday's shootout loss, which snapped a 10-game regulation losing streak for the Sens goal (0-10-1). He still hasn't won a game since Dec. 17, 2018, but the lengthy gap coincides with a concussion, as well as an offensive drought for the Sens.
  - The Senators are 14-15-4 on home ice this season. They are 9-23-2 on the road.
  - Thursday is Interim Head Coach Marc Crawford's home debut this season. Crawford is 1-1-1 since taking over the Ottawa's interim head coach.
  - The Senators are 1-7-1 in their last nine games. Tuesday's game marked the Senators first shootout of the season.
  - Thomas Chabot leads the Sens with 48 points (13G, 35A) in 59 games. Brady Tkachuk leads Ottawa with 14 goals this season.
  - Brian Gibbons is riding a three-game point streak (2G, 1A). Gibbons has four points (2G, 2A) in five games since being acquired by the Senators on Feb. 25.
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