Game Preview: Islanders at Wild

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (41-23-7) AT MINNESOTA WILD (34-30-8)
6 PM | XCEL ENERGY CENTER
WATCH: MSG | MSG GO | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders play the second half of a back-to-back set on Sunday after falling 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon in Michigan. The Islanders are 9-1-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season.
  - Saturday's loss to Detroit certainly wasn't for a lack of chances. The Islanders outshot the Red Wings 42-22, but a tremendous 41-save performance was the difference. Andreas Athanasiou scored both Detroit goals, while Anders Lee scored the lone goal for the Islanders.
  - With a goal on Saturday, Lee extended his scoring streak to three games, matching his second longest streak of the season. Lee scored in four straight games from Nov. 29 - Dec. 6. Lee leads the Islanders with 26 goals this season.
  - Casey Cizikas (lower body) was a late scratch for Saturday's game, taking warmups before leaving the ice with a strain. Cizikas is a possibility for Sunday's game, per Head Coach Barry Trotz.
  - Johnny Boychuk (upper body) is also available for Sunday's game, after missing three straight contests after absorbing a hit from Philadelphia Flyers winger Jake Voracek on March 9. Boychuk was available for Saturday's game, per Trotz, but did not play, as Trotz did not want to disrupt his current d corps.
  - Robin Lehner could also return to action on Sunday. Lehner suffered an upper-body injury on March 5, missing three games before returning to the lineup to back up Thomas Greiss on March 14. Lehner has backed up in two straight games, but Trotz hinted that the goalie would likely start one of the Isles two games over the weekend.
  - The Islanders power play is now 0-for-24 over the past 11 games.

#

WILD NOTES:

• Like the Islanders, the Wild are playing the second night of a back-to-back set. Minnesota beat the New York Rangers 5-2 on Saturday night at home. Ryan Donato scored a pair of goals in the win, as the Wild snapped a three-game losing streak.
  - The Wild are 15-15-6 at home this season, is a little out of character for the Wild, who are generally good in the State of Hockey. Last season the Wild were 27-6-8 at home, with the fewest regulation home losses in the NHL.
  - Minnesota (76 points) is one point back of the Arizona Coyotes (77 points) for the second Wild Card seed in the Western Conference. Arizona holds a game in hand, making Sunday's game a must-win for the Wild.
  - Minnesota forward Jason Zucker has 10 points (7G, 3A) in his last 12 games.
  - Zach Parise leads the Wild in goals (24) and points (56). Ryan Suter leads the team in assist (37).
  - Devan Dubnyk started Saturday's win for the Wild and there's a chance the workhorse could play Sunday as well. Dubnyk played both games of Minnesota's back-to-backs on March 7-8, Feb. 21-22 and Feb. 9-10.
  http://cms.nhl.bamgrid.com/images/assets/binary/305873324/binary-file/file.pdf