Game Preview: Islanders at Wild

New York Islanders (14-14-6) at Minnesota Wild (22-8-4)

Lee and Ladd are now first and third on the Islanders goal chart, so they may not be secondary goal scorers, but it does help take the load off John Tavares, who was held off the scoresheet on Tuesday.

READ: LADD MESHING WITH QUINE

Ladd has three goals in his last two games and five goals in his last 10 games. Lee has shot himself to the top of the Islanders goal scoring lead in the last month, netting 12 goals in 16 games since Nov. 23. The Islanders are 8-6-2 since Lee started his streak and 8-4-2 in December. Before Lee got going, the Islanders were 6-8-4.
Both players have a net-front presence and both have simplified their games over the past month. Both of Ladd's goals on Tuesday night were scored at the side of the net.
"Once you're a scorer, you're a scorer," Capuano said of Ladd after Tuesday's game. "They're going to come. Last year they came in bunches for him after Christmas, so he works hard. If you continue to work hard good things will happen. He went to the night twice, that's where the goals were. It's good to see those guys contribute."

Minnesota Islanders:

Thursday is the lone trip home for Nick Leddy, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson, the three Minnesota-born Islanders.
"Anytime you go back to your hometown it's always a little special," Capuano said. "It's going to cost them a little extra for tickets as usual, but at the end of the day it's always good to see family and friends and have them watch you play."
Nelson said Winnipeg is actually closer to his hometown of Warroad, MN, so he'll have more people at the game on New Year's Eve, but he always relishes the chance to play in St. Paul, the site of the Minnesota high school hockey state championships.
And of course he'll have some friends and family in attendance on Thursday night.
"I'll see some family, enjoy some time there," Nelson said. "Obviously don't get back there too much, but spend some time there in the summer, so good to get back there and see some familiar faces.

Minnesota Going Wild:

The Minnesota Wild have won a franchise-best 11 straight games, making them the hottest team in the Western Conference and second hottest in the NHL.
The Wild are firing on all cylinders, tied atop the West with 105 goals while allowing the fewest goals (68) in the conference. Devan Dubnyk leads the NHL with a .947 save percentage and five shutouts and boasts 9-0-2 in his last 11 games.
"They are a good defensive team and obviously their goaltender has been real good for them," Capuano said. "It's a challenge for us. Like every game we have to have the mindset, confidence and poise that we've played with in the last few games."
Charlie Coyle and Eric Staal lead the Wild with 29 points apiece. Coyle leads the team with 12 goals, while Staal leads Minnesota with 18 assists and is riding an eight-game point streak (5G, 6A). Four other Wild players - Nino Niederreiter, Mikko Koivu, Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund - each have at least eight goals and 20 points, as the Wild are spreading the offense around.
The Islanders won the first meeting between the teams 6-3 at Barclays Center on Oct. 23. To date, that's the Wild's only multiple-goal loss this season.