Game Preview: Islanders vs Canadiens

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (41-31-9) VS MONTREAL CANADIENS (31-43-6)
7 PM ET | UBS ARENA | BUY TICKETS
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Win and they're in.
The New York Islanders can clinch a playoff spot with a win, or even just a point, as they host the Montreal Canadiens in their final matchup of the regular season on Wednesday at UBS Arena.
"The fans have been amazing," Noah Dobson said on Wednesday morning. "They really bring the noise and the energy. We feed off that so hopefully we can get off to a good start tonight. This is what we play for."
The Islanders are back in control of their playoff destiny following the Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, something they briefly lost on Monday night, as the Isles suffered a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Islanders found themselves in a 3-0 hole early in the game and couldn't dig themselves out, despite late goals from Hudson Fasching and Casey Cizikas. Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome iced the game with empty net goals.
"It was disappointing for sure," Head Coach Lane Lambert said after Monday's loss. "But we have to deal with it and move on to the next game."

The Islanders (91 points) are grasping the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Florida Panthers (92 points), who occupy the first wild card spot and clinched a playoff berth with the Penguins (90 points) loss. The Isles, Panthers and Penguins each have one game remaining in the regular season, so if the Isles falter against Montreal, Pittsburgh can still leapfrog them.
The Islanders are 1-0-1 in the season series against the Montreal Canadiens, including a 2-1 win on Jan. 14 and a 4-3 OT loss on Feb. 11.

FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT

The Islanders are hosting Fan Appreciation Night at UBS Arena, meaning all fans in attendance will receive a 50th Anniversary Mini Book, which serves as a teaser to the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book that is written by Stan Fischler and will be given to Members later this year.
All fans in attendance will also enjoy 10% off concessions, thanks to American Express.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders are 18-9-4 in their last 31 games to be in a position to clinch on home ice.
  ISLES VS HABS
  ISLANDERS ARTICLES
  3 Takeaways: Capitals 5, Islanders 2
  This Day in Isles History
  First Isles Playoff Series Win
  Talkin' Isles: Glenn Healy
  GAME EXTRAS
  Join the Islanders Family
  Game Worn Jersey Auction
  Online ICF 50/50 Raffle
  Talkin' Isles
  Isles History
  - The Islanders have a home record of 24-13-3 at UBS Arena this season with one more game to be played on home ice on Wednesday, marking the last game of the regular season.
  - Alexander Romanov missed the past four games with an upper-body injury. The 23-year-old defenseman spent two seasons with Montreal before he was acquired by the Islanders ahead of the 2022-23 season. He tallied an assist against his former club on Feb. 11.
  - Hudson Fasching scored on Monday against the Capitals to bring the Isles within two late in the third period. Fasching is riding a three-game point streak (2G, 1A) and has 18 points (9G, 9A) through 48 games played this season.
  - Bo Horvat recorded a helper on Monday night, extending his point streak to three games (1G, 4A).
  - Noah Dobson extended his point streak to three games, with four assists over that span. The 23-year-old defenseman has 47 points (13G, 34A) in his third full NHL season.
  - Matt Martin is fifth in the NHL with 292 hits on the season.
  - Per team statistician Eric Hornick, the Islanders outscored opponents 35-13 over their last 24 third periods.
  - Zach Parise is expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday against Montreal for his 164th consecutive game, without missing a single game for the full two seasons he's been with the Islanders. Parise's streak is the 15th longest active streak in the NHL.
  - The Islanders' power play went 0-16 in the last eight games and ranks 31st in the NHL overall (15.5%). Since Mathew Barzal was injured on Feb. 18, the power play went 5-for-52 (9.6%), which ranks last in the NHL over that span.

CANADIENS NOTES:

• The Canadiens rank eighth in the Atlantic Division with 68 points, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Their season concludes on Thursday with a matchup at home against the Boston Bruins.
  - Montreal had three days off after they were bulldozed 7-1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
  - Cole Caufield opted for season-ending shoulder surgery and hasn't been in the lineup since Jan. 19. He still leads the team in goals (26).
  - Mike Matheson has been hot as of late, picking up 26 points (7G, 19A) in 29 games since the All-Star break, leading the team in assists and points over that span. The 29-year-old defenseman's 34 points and 26 assists both set career highs in his first season with the Canadiens.
  - Rafael Harvey-Pinard leads the team in goals (7) since Mar. 5 and has two goals and an assist in his last four games. The 24-year-old winger collected 20 points (14G, 6A) through 34 games this season, after scoring one goal in his sole NHL appearance last season.
  - Kirby Dach is sidelined with an upper-body injury and hasn't been in the lineup since Mar. 27.